The spring walk in the Woods caused the Old Man to think of Grace. Sixty degrees on February 10 is an achievement. The snow is almost gone, all 10 inches of it. Birds were singing a happy tune of warmer days to come. Hope rises in the trees and the Old Man’s heart. The ability to walk in the winter Woods is Grace.

I think of my current age and recall believing that those of my age years ago were profoundly old. I wondered how those of 68 felt and thought…Now I can assess measures of age firsthand. My Dad died at 60. The ground is still there after the heavy snow blanket. It is ready to move forward with Grace.

‘Life swirls about us, we know not where worries come from, nor where our peace is hiding,’ Neva J said. ‘The Bible tells that there will be wars and rumors of wars,’ Neva J continued. ‘Why do we do the things we do?’ Neva J wondered aloud. ‘When I would do good, evil is always with me,’ Neva J mused. ‘Are we a creation of free will or is our life mapped out from womb to the tomb?’ Neva J wondered. ‘A good place to start demonstrating free will is to go against the recognized order of power…help the helpless…clothe and feed the homeless,’ Neva J whispered. ‘Stand outside the strong walls of Jericho and trust where your heart leads,’ Neva J proclaimed.

‘We all make mistakes,’ Chet said. ‘Either Home is for all humans, or Home is a myth,’ Chet continued. ‘In school, my fellow students made fun of me and pointed their fingers at my heavy body and thick glasses,’ Chet explained. ‘Billy B ignored their taunts and defended me…he was my friend,’ Chet stated. ‘I do not hold grudges against my detractors in school and have made friends of many,’ Chet noted. ‘People come from many realities and challenges…some from broken homes, deprivation and mental illness,’ Chet explained. ‘Grace covers everyone,’ Chet said, smiling broadly.

‘You dance and sing as a person who understands God’s Grace,’ the Old Man said. ‘The beautiful words in your song reveal a life of suffering and a life of Grace,’ the Old Man continued. ‘You inspire me with your contact with the angels,’ the Old Man said passionately. ‘I see broken people cracked by the hard times of life and yet playing music and singing as if they are in Heaven,’ the Old Man noted. ‘What is your secret of happiness and your decision process of living each day,’ the Old Man asked. ‘Do you have a secret book or parchment that has revealed the truths of happiness peace and a sense of place,’ the Old Man continued. ‘Since I have been in the French Quarter my cares have melted like the snow in July,’ the Old Man attested. ‘It seems that Grace is for all of God’s Children and not just those who look like we do,’ the Old Man mused.

‘I grew up a sharcroppers daughter and we had little to eat and a wooden clapboard cabin on the owners estate,’ Black Singer said. ‘People told me to not forget my place of servitude and humility,’ Black Singer continued. ‘I moved to Detroit and found the racism ther hidden but as potent as any I has seen,’ Black Singer continued. ‘I worked in a Ford Factory and made decent money but I wanted to sing,’ Black Singer said. ‘So I came to New Orleans and took up residence in the French Quarter,’ Black Singer explanined. ‘I followed my heart and used the Grace that God had given me to love everyone,’ Black Singer explained. ‘The look on your face tells me that I did the right thing, ‘Black Singer laughed a Sould Laugh…