The snow is melting in a hurry. It has been with us for almost two weeks. The Old Man has taken more snow photos than ever. It has seemed like Snowworld for the past two weeks. Yet change always happens. So it goes as we come into this world with a slap on our bottoms and a lusty cry. Nothing stays the same. However, we want to capture our beliefs and creeds in a bottle like a firefly and never let them go. Beliefs are like a warm quilt that comforts us in the cold reality of change. We are so comforted that when presented with a new truth, we reject it if it does not align with what our peers and experiences tell us. In many corners of the world, change is believed to be evil. Religions would rather fight and die on the Hill that they have erected their tent of dogma. What is our purpose here? How were we selected to experience the supreme joy and suffering of living?

The Old Man has often considered how a change of purpose and thought will occur once we die. Will we experience a sudden revelation of how wrong we were on Earth and how much we lost the plot of our story? Will we be sent to a Bardo of only those who think and have lived like us? Will that Bardo experience prepare us for the change that we rejected in our Earthly life?

‘How can I believe that all men are created equal when I doubted this idea my entire life,’ Man said. ‘My father told me to not trust the black man,’ the Man said. ‘Although I have been treated well many times by the black race, I refuse to change my opinion of them as a group,’ Man said. ‘I believe in American for Americans,’ the Man said. ‘I do not like anyone who does not support my Christian/Nationalist belief,’ Man proclaimed. ‘Mama taught me, and Daddy taught me, and my colleagues reinforce my belief that the world is full of people that God is not fond of,’ Man attested.

‘Welcome to the Bardo, Black Man said. ‘I will help you while you’re here,’ Black Man said. ‘I was a slave in the Civil War, and President Lincoln changed his belief regarding the Black Race so much that he freed the slaves,’ Black Man continued. ‘We taught the President that we were worthy of respect and a chance to make something ourselves,’ Black Man said as he extended his hand of friendship. ‘When the Civil War began, President Lincoln did not have the goal of freeing the slaves, but by its conclusion, he did just that,’ Black Man said with a wide grin. ‘President Lincoln was open to change,’ Black Man whispered.

‘Hateful words and actions are not what the Bible instructs us in treating Strangers,’ Jane said solemenly. ‘Harsh words and harsh actions and killing innocent people are not in Christ’s Plan,’ Jane continued. ‘I saw in New Orleans in the French Quarter that the angels were rejoicing with the black people playing music and singing,’ Jane said. ‘The people of the French Quarter are beloved by the angels and by God,’ Jane noted. ‘God is not a respector of persons…we have lost our way…we have held on to our prejudices and bias, and no longer are a Christian Nation,’ Jane said with tears in her eyes. ‘The Olympics begin today, and our nation is so far from the goal of this storied event,’ Jane whispered.

‘The black bartender told the Old Man that he was good people, ‘Old Man remembered. ‘He made my day,’ Old Man said. ‘I was honored and humbled by the kind words of the Bartender,’ Old Man thought.