Feb 04, 2024

Living in Unconditional Love (152)

 

“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.

02/04/2024                             This has been a quiet week as I could rest from the excitement of the little ones and start preparation for the month-long stay with Dan and family in Lima, Peru. I leave on Valentine’s Day which is also Ash Wednesday and return on March 14^th. I am not sure how much I will be able to write these journals during that time, but I hope to be able to find the time and space to accomplish it. They may be brief, but their internet is good, and I should be able to send it out.

Much to my surprise my Winter Aconite are waiting to bloom, as they lie with their yellow blossoms visible but tightly closed against the cold, waiting for a little warmth and sunshine. The temperature is hovering around the freezing mark even though the sun is shining and that is a bit chilly for them to bloom. This is the first sign of Spring every year for me, and this is about the earliest I have ever seen them. Snow is almost melted which gave them access to sunshine. My daughter Maureen said hers in Columbus were in bloom, which caused me to go look and lo and behold there they were. I should have looked earlier and may have found them even earlier.

The cleaning service I use will be here next Tuesday and that will help pulling all into order. The place is not quite what I want to see before I leave for a month, but it is not bad. I want all to be organized as I have plants to be watered each week and the birds must be fed, but Tim said his family will see to that. The bird feeder lasts about a week so one trip a week should suffice to water and feed.

I picked up my new car on Monday and it is nice, a 2024 version of my older Toyota Highlander, but a hybrid version. It does not have all the bells and whistles of my older Highlander, but it will do nicely, and the hybrid version saves gas (32+ millage). It is nice to see 400+ miles left when I fill up the tank. It will take some getting use to the silence when I start the car, as it runs on electric at first.

I find myself dwelling often on that time four years ago when we were moving into the last phase of Eileen’s life, and I must pause and regroup each time. I do not believe I will ever pass this time of year without remembering that period of time.

Meditation

Gentle One, I rest in You as we move through this time of year filled with memories of Eileen’s life and death and Maria’s birth. Life is flowing along, and my time in this phase of life flows with it. I know not when it will end, but I place all in Your hands and care. I trust all to You how life is filled with joy and sorrow, but all will be well, yes, all will be well.