Feb 08, 2026

Living in Unconditional Love (254)

 

“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.

02/08/2026                                      Today (Saturday) was a bitter cold day, with the temperature below zero all day. I am not sure if I will go out tomorrow as it is so cold. But the house is warm, and I am comfortable so I can’t complain. We had a little fresh snow, and all is clean and white and looks beautiful. The birds have been busy at the feeder remaining fluffed to keep warm with a constant stream all day. I am glad to be able to provide a little to keep them alive. It is a challenging day to venture out with it being very cold and the wind was strong.

I am starting to pack and getting packages to bring with me on my trip to Lima in a week. I have a list of items to buy and then to be sure everything fits in the two suitcases I am allowed. Mostly packages arrive and I put them on a bed to wait before I pack them up.

The week has been quiet as I had nothing planned all week. The house was cleaned for the last time, and all is ready. I will wash the sheets before I leave even though I will still use them for a couple of days before I leave. I fly out of Syracuse Sunday afternoon to Atlanta then onward and arrive early in Lima, 5am. I will fly first class (business class?) so I will have a bed to sleep in.

I pray for our nation that has evolved into a cynical sense of self-righteousness that is far from the Christian vision that is so loudly proclaimed, as the federal force beats and kills protestors against their brutal approach. How fragile is the peace in this once good and kind nation. But the people keep protesting and that is encouraging.

Meditation

Gentle One, I place myself in Your safety net as pray for acceptance and help to those who so helpless in our midst. I ask mercy on those who do not see You in each person, in the poor and desperate faces that are turned to them in agony. I pray for the so many that have no internal feelings of love and mercy that is Your only cry. Help us oh Lord.