Less than 12 hours ago I sat on this  chair and I watched, on TV, the infamous ball drop in Times Square, and just like that, 2016 ended and 2017 began. Yet, the Aware Presence That I Am remained unchanged.

Just hours ago, Millions anticipated, with excitement, Mariah Carey’s performance in Times Square. Now the world turned on her because they didn’t like it. The Aware Presence That She is remained unchanged.

Hours ago, I had health insurance coverage I was fortunate enough to not  pay for. Hours later, I have a new insurance company I now pay for. Yet, the Aware Presence That I Am remains unchanged.

A week ago, a friend was happily married and now she is a widow. The Aware Presence That She, and her husband are remains unchanged.

Yesterday was a clear sunny day. Today, rain and clouds make for a grey day. The Aware Presence That I Am remains unchanged.

Days ago, many suffered because 2016 was the worst year of their life. Today, they are happy because the numbers on the calendar changed. And yet, the Aware Presence That They Are remains unchanged.

Last month, my age changed. And the Aware Presence That I Am remained unchanged.

Last year, I changed residence and will change it again in a few weeks. The Aware Presence That I Am remains unchanged.

Soon, one minute Obama will still be POTUS, and the next minute, Trump will hold the title. The Aware Presence That They Are will remain unchanged.

Yesterday, my personality experienced sadness and today it’s excited. The Aware Presence That I Am remained unchanged.

The founding Fathers stated in 1776, in the US Constitution: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.  Later,  some politicians decided this is not so. And yet, the Aware Presence That We Each Is has remained unchanged.

With a signature, a law changes everything. With another signature that law is changed, yet again. And still, the Aware Presence That We Each Is remains unchanged.

One day, Christianity doesn’t exist, 300 years later a few men get together and suddenly a new religion is formed. And 2,000 years later, The Aware Presence That Jesus Is remains unchanged.

In the beginning, God creates everything and saw that it was good. Not long after, humans decided it’s not so good and they attempt to change it. And forever, The Aware Presence That God Is remains unchanged.

Our physical bodies, Our emotions, our beliefs and perceptions keep changing. The Aware Presence That We Each Is remains unchanged. Isn’t that interesting?!

What is eternal remains changeless. What is temporary changes.

Awareness of this ends all suffering!

Thank you, Creator, for the magnificent paradox of changeless change.