Feb 16, 2025

Living in Unconditional Love (205)

 

“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.

02/16/2025                                                    Another winter storm is here (Saturday) as I prepare to leave on Sunday for Peru. It is supposed to turn to rain by noon, and I have arranged for the plow to clean the driveway before noon, which will give me plenty of time to drive with Tim to Syracuse for my flight – unless the storm stops the flight. I will watch and see. Syracuse usually receives much more snow than I do, as it can receive lake effect snow which can be intense.

I am allowed two suitcases, and I have had to rearrange items in the suitcases to keep the weight under 50 lbs. each. They are both packed, and I had to take my larger carryon to fit everything I need (clothes and meds) for my journey. I use a wheelchair at the airports, as I would find it difficult to walk between gates at my age.

Since I will be gone for almost six weeks, I am cleaning the fridge so that things will not spoil while I am gone. All my paints will be stored in the fridge as they keep better if cooled and I will not be here to use them.

I thought our VP has much gall to chastise the American bishops and then the pope for dare to suggest that the things they are destroying are unchristian. I was glad to see the Pope responded strongly, suggesting what he and T are doing is cruel and harmful, as many will suffer and die from starvation and disease that would have been saved with the programs being axed – and they are responsible for their pain.

My own bishop had a many page editorial in the local Catholic paper outlining the social justice teachings of the church, and how the Catholic church will continue to serve the poor and rejected.

That leaves me hopeful that eventually some level thinking of the right things that must be done will come forth.

Meditation

Gentle One, I truly weep for the pain that is increasing in our world due to the actions of our new president and how he promises to bring more pain to our world – and how his followers are cheering him on. I pray for all of them, as they do not know the joy of following Your gentle way of aiding all in pain. I ask Your guidance as I join my family in Peru and will hope to bring Your joy to all I meet.