Oct 15, 2023

Living in Unconditional Love (136)

 

“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.

10/15/2023                             Always something! Last Sunday as I was preparing breakfast, I turned on the coffee pot. At first all went well, then when I looked at the coffee when it said it was done with a beep there was coffee all over the place. Most had gone in the pot, but the last quarter did not. Nothing like having a drawer (and counter top and floor) full of coffee. It was the draw with all the small kitchen things like measuring spoons and cups and so many other small things, plus the coffee on the counter and floor. I had to pull it all out and wash all when I returned from church. I had sufficient coffee for the day, but I had to go into town on Monday to buy another coffee pot. This one had lasted for several years so I have no complaints.

Other than that, things went well during the week. The skylight leak was hopefully fixed, and since it is raining as I write this but no leaks yet, I am hopeful it was fixed, but I will be watching it closely for a while. I did mow the lawn including the lower area, probably the last time this year for that area. The weather is still not that cold, but I did bring in the sensitive plants as it is in the lower 40s and upper 30s at night. The flowing pots and boxes look beautiful, and this is very late as we have had no frost yet and none are forecast over the next ten days. Cool, but nothing even in the lower 30s.

No progress was made on the back patio, but he has promised to have it completed this year. Since almost all things that normally sit on that patio has been moved off of the lawn and now sit at the edges I can mow and while large areas will have to grow new lawn it does not look that bad and I can mow the area.

It is sad what is happening in the Gaza strip and adjoining areas. One of my employees had left just before the event to tour Israel and was in Jerusalem when it occurred. He had to go to Jordon to get a flight home, but I believe all is well. He will have some tales to tell. I will see him this week I think, and I am sure we will hear a lot.

It is sad to see the world in the mess it is, but since we hear the news as it happens, we know way more than even a few years back. We hear and see far more than most would have heard even a century ago, and we must realize that things are actually much better than a hundred years ago. I have great hope we will eventually smooth things out and wars will end, but I will not live to see that. I suspect that fights over land will always occur, and things will be quiet for a while, but then….

It has been a different year weather-wise, cool, and rainy all summer and it just continues into the fall. It appears as if we will have a warmer winter than usual, even though the wooly-caterpillars claim we will have more snow. We shall see.

Meditation

Gentle One, this year seems to have gone by so quickly, but as I get older that seems how it is – time flies by. I watch with delight my young grandchildren blossom and the older ones move into life as adults. I am grateful in that I feel well and can do the things I need to do to maintain my life well. I rest in Your love each day, grateful to be able to rise in the morning and move through the day with few problems. I bow in thanksgiving and in wonder at the beauty of life.