Apr 05, 2026

Living in Unconditional Love (262)

 

“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.

04/05/2026                             Happy Easter to all! Crazy to think I will be 92 this coming week. I will leave Peru the night of my birthday (the 9^th) and arrive home on the afternoon of the 10^th. It will be good to be home, but I will miss the noise and joy of the three little ones.

I had a problem occur on Tuesday when I woke up with gout in my left big toe. I have had gout before, but in the left thumb twice. This is the first time in the foot, the most common place in most people. I take medicine to prevent it, but obviously it does not fully prevent it. With the help of some pain pills and care not to bend that toe, I am able to get around and I was able to join the family on the various ventures.

We had a busy week, as the kids started their Easter break on Thursday. We spent Thursday at the Zoo, and it is a nice one sprawled over many acres. I used a wheelchair most of the time, for the zoo is large with many hills. They uncovered old ruins (2-3 thousand years old) which are protected, and the zoo exhibits wonder around these ruins, so it was a double joy to see both the very old and the wild animals of today.

On Saturday we went to a children’s adventure park, made for quite young children, just the age of the kids. Rides of various types, not too high but still giving the kids a thrill. It is deep in the mountains, and we were surrounded by the dry hills and low mountains of the area. It was fascinating to drive though them, and many expensive vacation homes were scattered around the hills, and lots of poor areas next to the highway. They have a favorite driver who took them out, waited for the 3-4 hours we were there, and brought us back. Interestingly enough, that wilderness was the only area I could receive the www signal in Peru! Truly in the middle of nowhere. I glanced at the phone while I was taking some pictures and discovered I was receiving some family texts at that time. I sent some responses while I could.

T is making it truly difficult tor the future presidents to assemble any kind of united thought in the future, for other countries can see how easy it is for one unhinged president to ignore all past relationships. We have lost what has made us so great over the past 60 years or more – out willingness to reach out to others in need.

Meditation

 

Gentle One, I lay my burden at Your feet, for I know You will release them from my shoulders. Our world is in a sad shape at the moment, primarily due to what our nation does to hurt others on a daily basis. Forgive us our sins for many see the pain we are causing others and pull away from those causing that pain.