Apr 30, 2023

Living in Unconditional Love (112)

 

“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, and even though it is abating, I wear my mask anytime I am out among people, unlike most.

04/30/2023                                      Friday I received two vaccines, the latest Covid booster and the first of two shingles shots. Saturday I just lay around as I had a slight fever and spent the day being cold. I napped often, and just took it easy. I had a case of shingles some 30 years ago or more, but I thought I should get the vaccine since the reports show its high effectiveness. I was fortunate to have had a mild case of shingles in my left side of the face and on the ear as I have heard the horror stories of severe cases of shingles. I have been told that just because I had it once I can still get it again.

Last weekend I attended my daughter Barbara’s play she produced with the Parish Players, “The King and I.” I had forgotten the sad ending, and the performance was excellent. I ended up in tears, not unusual for me at good performances that have sad points. The performance made me aware that latent talent is all around us, as six of the “wives” were high school girls that had never been on stage before, and they were great to watch. It would be great if these experiences help them in the future, and I am sure it improved their confidence. It was also great to see the cultural mix in the performers.

Her parish is quite large, over 4000 members, with great talent available. They always choose musicales as the choir forms the heart of the group.

As we all know the weather is very cool. I am still wearing my winter clothes, and from the weather reports will continue to wear them for a couple of more weeks. The spring bulbs are wonderful, and the cool weather is encouraging them to stick around a bit longer. I stopped by the cemetery and the daffodils that Tim and I had planted in the fall look really good. Give them another year or two and they will fill in the spaces.

The crew has been here this week cleaning up the garden, removing all the old dead growth from last year and pulling weeds. It is looking good, and it is a joy to walk around admiring all of God’s handiwork in creating beauty. I feel bad that I can no longer get down to clean the garden and pull weeds, but that is one of the things of ageing. The cool breeze discourages me from spending long periods of time outside, but I still enjoy the time I do spend outside.

I continue to be saddened by the large number in our country who cheer on someone who has openly said he wishes to be a dictator. The laws passed to prevent those of color from voting including extreme gerrymandering so the Republicans can hold power longer. Anybody who is different is to be rejected. We are one of the poorer countries of the world in accepting people who are different from the ‘norm’, whatever that is. Every person has flaws and hurts in some way. I am reading a beautiful book by Howard Thurman, a black contemporary and friend of MLK. He is a true mystic, and it is breathtaking to see how he has used the prejudice he has faced to grow spiritually. The book Meditations of the Heart is a beautiful work of the heart from one who has suffered much but used that suffering to actuate forgiveness and love. These short readings are a part of my daily reading cycle.

Meditation

 

Gentle One, I lay my burdens and pain down into Your care and Love. I do not know what I can do to further Your love in our poor world that is hurting so badly, especially in this potentially great country of ours. I rest in this love that soothes me at this time and ask that I become a tool to further Your love in our world.