Nov 03, 2024

Living in Unconditional Love (191)

 

“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.

11/03/2024                                                    A very moving thing happened over the past week. Maria, Dan and Alesandra’s oldest who was born the day before Eileen died, has always had an affinity with Eileen. She announced over last weekend that “This is Eileen Marie Peters week” and has done something every day to celebrate that fact. Friday she was playing with Dan’s phone and created a design using colorful and joyful emojis for Eileen because “She deserves to see beautiful things.” It is All Saints Day and Saturday is the day of the dead which is heavily celebrated in Spanish society, and it fits. I was a puddle when Dan relayed that to the family, as was the whole family. Mysterious indeed! She has always had a special relationship with Eileen from early childhood on.

The World Series ended in a very strange way. Fascinating to watch a team disintegrate in that last game; not just one individual but almost the whole team. Anyone is subject to pressure and having a poor response is not unusual, and it does not matter how much one earns it can still happen.

It is still unseasonably warm despite that I have had a freeze, but we have put the garden to bed for the winter. Even the bonsai are now in their winter home, as all deciduous plants have lost their leaves, and the evergreens have reached that dark green tone that announces they are ready for the cold and are in hibernation. All umbrellas are in storage and the chairs have been put either in storage or covered to prevent damage by snow.

This is the time of the year when small critters try to invade the house, and I had the pest control folks out to set traps. I caught two in the house and two in the garage and found three traps where the bait was gone. I will have the pest control company come back to replace all with baited traps. New mice will still be trying to come in, so I want to keep the baited traps loaded.

I have received a ton of election related calls that I have blocked (cell) or just not answered, plus countless texts from both parties. It will soon be over. I find it sad that almost half or perhaps even more than half of our citizens will vote for a person who has made it very clear he wants to be dictator and is filled with hatred for anyone who disagrees with him (and expresses that hatred clearly), willing to destroy the earth to gain power.

Meditation

Gentle One, I put all my concerns in Your care. I ask that you hold all those who depend on Your grace to carefully in Your care and nudge those who have the ability to share their bounty. Many in our society are suffering and too many have an overflow of bounty but never seem to feel they have sufficient. I am grateful for the touch of love that flowed through little Maria for Eileen that shows how Your love can touch anyone who is open receive that love.