Oct 20, 2024

Living in Unconditional Love (189)

 

“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.

10/20/2024                                                    This will be short, as I am writing this after returning home from the Friday wedding on Long Island of my Grand Nephew Ian Rogers to his beautiful bride Samantha. In truth, this is the normal time I am posting it on Facebook, but I have just returned less than an hour ago.

It was a wonderful time as I got to see most of the nieces and nephews from that side of my family (Eileen’s). the weather was beautiful, the wedding was beautiful, and the reception was fun (but loud). I drove down to Barbara’s home Thursday evening and we had supper out, then drove to the wedding Friday afternoon. We stayed in the hotel they had picked out and I had breakfast on Saturday with the groom’s family, Paul and Carolyn Rogers and their son Connor, his wife, and the bride and groom. Great to see one and all.

Then Barbara and I visited the early aircraft museum which was located almost across the street from the hotel. The planes on display covered the entire history of flight from Long Island from the earliest aircraft and included a replica of the Spirit of St. Louis hanging from the ceiling, as well as many real aircraft in a large building that may have been a hanger in bygone days. Very interesting. We left there and drove back to Barbara’s place. I went to church there on Sunday and then drove home after coffee and donuts at the church.

All in all I had a great time.

It looks like I had a frost while I was gone as the peonies have turned black. It is the time for such to happen.

Meditation

Gentle One, I am grateful to be able to join in the family festivities such as this wedding. It is a very spirited family, and I am truly humbled to be part of the rejoicing that is core to these wonderful people. I am truly grateful for the gift of love that is present and surrounds me on a constant basis.