Sep 22, 2024

Living in Unconditional Love (185)

 

“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.

09/22/2024                                                    First day of Autumn and after looking around at all the trees, I can say that fall is indeed here. The maple tree in the lower pasture turned red and almost all leaves have fallen (it usually turns early), and I have seen that a surprising number of trees are almost bare. Most of the colorful trees have not turned yet but it has started. The wild apple trees have a large crop this year and are dropping their apples in large quantities, and the deer are happy. I still have a few flowers but not many, the fall bulbs are still showing well, and the glads have not yet bloomed. I wonder if they will, as the season is getting late, and the temperatures will drop next week into the 60s. Everything has been weeded and trimmed and all looks good.

I was exposed to Covid a few days ago, and I am isolating myself for a few days. I bought a test kit if I start to feel ill, but so far, I feel well. Hopefully I will not come down with it, and I plan to get my booster shot and flu shot this coming week if I continue to feel well.

I am always amazed to see fall come around in what seems like a short time. Time has a way of sliding by quietly. The season changes before one really enjoys it. Especially without Eileen, I find it difficult to get involved in things. It is hard to think that that she has been gone four and half years already.

I cringe when I read the news with war and the sad spewing of lies aimed to hurt people who are innocent. Lies told, as explained by one of leading exponents, to gain media attention and the fact that people are injured by them is of no consequence to ones spewing the lies. The problem is that the effect of the lies won’t just go away when the election is over but will continue to crush the innocent for some time to come.

It was not that many elections ago that the speeches would have many suggestions as to how the candidate would help the people of this country if elected, but now so much is negative talk aimed to hurt the poor and already crushed members of our country.

Meditation

 

Gentle One, I put my trust in You that our poor nation will survive this and eventually be stronger. We have so much to be thankful for but many seem intent in hoarding and stepping on the poor to get more. I am grateful for all I have had and am thankful for all the opportunities I have been given. I pray especially for those whose life is so desperate that they are starving and lack shelter and that they be guided to those able to furnish the basics of life.