Jul 27, 2025

Living in Unconditional Love (228)

 

“Love flows from God to humans without effort:

As a bird glides through the air without moving its wings-

Thus, they go wherever they wish united in body and soul,

Yet separate in form.”

–Mechtild of Magdeburg

 

My wife Eileen died from esophageal cancer in February 2020 one year after being diagnosed, 60 years after we met on Long Island. Then my brother Tom became ill (not COVID), and I spent a total of six weeks being with him in Ohio, but he died in October 2020. My sister-in-law Sue Mahoney died from Covid-19 in January 2021. On top of it all stood the pandemic, locking everyone down almost two years. Covid has proved to be a persistent problem, and many of the long-term effects are quite serious, and it has proven much more serious than flu.

07/27/2025                             Hard to imagine that it is almost the end of July. The weather has been hot with occasional storms to water things, and the lawns are still green and require weekly mowing. It is nice to venture out and enjoy the warmth during the hour and a half that it takes to mow.

I did a stupid thing and when I did not quite pull the car in to the garage far enough, when I tried to close the garage door it caught on the rear of the car and broke the garage door to the point where after much effort it was decided it could not be repaired. When they (Tim Hatch, who does all my work) went to find a similar door, it turns out that they don’t make anything like it, so I will replace both garage doors to maintain symmetry. O well, things have been quiet anyway.

The county fair is this week, I have avoided going down during the busy times. Tim and Max came out this Saturday and we pulled the weeds from the grave (the gladiolas we planted earlier are ready to bloom, probably starting this week) and things look nice. Then they traveled to the fair to enjoy themselves.

The garden lilies and daylilies are at their peak, and all is stunning. I do enjoy getting around and looking at the beauty that is present. I am grateful that I can still move around and enjoy the beauty that I have been privileged to have. This is the most beautiful time of the year in the garden, but each season beings out its own beauty.

I had a bonsai club meeting this week, and it was enjoyable to chat with all. I took two of my larger trees down and we trimmed them nicely.

This is a birthday month. My oldest and youngest grandsons, (Huntley this coming week and Brendan last week) and Alesandra. Plus both Barbara (my oldest) and Drew (my youngest) were at the end of June. Fun times.

The condition of the world has been aggravated by our cancellation of much of the funding used to feed the hungry of the world. I saw one estimation that the lack of funding is causing around 100 deaths per HOUR already, and it will only become worse. No excuse, only greed. Just so they can give a greater amount to the already very rich, or billionaires. The food is in warehouses but the distribution network have all been fired, so it will rot rather than be given out to the starving.

Meditation

Gentle One, our floundering humanity is a sad testament to the way we react to the gifts You have given us over the centuries. So many of the rich believe that all is theirs to despoil, but their short lives, no matter how long, is over in a flash and age stares one in the face. I recognize and pray for all involved as only by Your grace can we come to understand the beauty and joy that is ours for the taking if only we see.