Dec 14, 2025

Living in Unconditional Love (247)

 

“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.

12/14/2025                             I am writing this on Saturday, December 13, on my daughter’s Janet birthday. It is also Taylor Swift’s birthday, and Dick Van Dyke’s 100^th birthday. Cold and cloudy, but still a beautiful day.

It is hard to believe that one week ago I was basking in 70+ days in Lima, enjoying the sun, beautiful views of the ocean, and the joy of three lively girls. Then Tuesday night I boarded the plane for a very bumpy ride headed back up to the States and home, ending at the Newark airport, meeting Barbara there. I came home Thursday, with Barb taking me to Liberty NY where we met Tim for the rest of the ride back.

That was the roughest air ride I have had on my journeys back and forth to Lima, but I dozed a good part of the way. I was in a sleeper but kept myself firmly belted in to avoid bouncing out.

A cute event occurred late in my visit in Peru. The youngest, Madison, who is two and a half, had heard her parents and others tell me to drink more water. So she brought me her “sippi-cup” that had water in it and demanded I drink from it, showing me how. She was not satisfied until I had some and then, she grabbed it and marched off. She often brought me my cane and other things she decided I needed. She is my little caretaker.

It has become colder than average at home, so I have remained snuggled under blankets but still trying to catch up with all that I must do to catch up with all that occurred in my month-long visit to Lima. I brought back a second large suitcase empty to bring whatever the next time I visit, probably in February. But it was nice to see the snow, as it has been several years since we had significant snow this early. I have about 7-8 inches on the ground.

Karen and Maureen are flying here next Sunday and Barbara will join us late Monday. They are staying until Jan. 2, which will be very nice.

Meditation

Gentle One, I place all the world’s pain under Your care. As I watch how much of the pain is caused by planned cruelty by those calling themselves Christian but who act the opposite of what Jesus said, I am saddened and often sickened by their actions. I ask for help in these colder months especially and welcome Your Love in these difficult times,