Last night it was Christmas once again. Dinner with Tara, Mike, Paige, Tyler, Kalynn and Dylan was special. Global Gourmet was a perfect setting for close conversation and sharing of stories. I can not recall an evening I enjoyed more. Their bright, happy faces and wonderful talk were better than the warmth of a fireplace on a bitterly cold night.

So we look to each other for the peace of living. Happiness and joy can be found in the eyes of our loved ones.

The Old Man witnessed people seeking peace in the eyes of others in the French Quarter. Hope overcoming fear. Confidence in the face of anxiety. Arms outstretched for the angel’s grasp. They played music inspired by their life experiences and love. They sang and danced from their souls. The spiritual quality of our daily lives is often lost on our busy minds.

The Old Man is a people watcher. People fascinate him. The Universe is contained within them. Life plays out like a short movie. We are young, and soon we become old. The tropes of success fall away. All that remains is our soul and the spirit that inspires it.

Listening is necessary in Soul Watching. What does a person say when the stage lights are dimmed and the stage curtain is drawn? We perform our roles on the stage of life. We must learn our lines well. So many scenes do not have a redo. We strive to perform the part we have been assigned the first time. We are full of mistakes and flaws. This is what makes us magnificent. Our outer shell is cracked from the buffeting of life. This is how the light gets in…