A Past Master's Thoughts

  Some things can not be flushed..stop trying

  Faith..faith is a very interesting thing. Now I know how some religious text define it. But for the sake of argument let’s just say it’s a “Strong belief or trust”. One day a man was out hiking in the mountains. He was enjoying the view and fresh crisp air. This is “Gods Country”. It was getting darker and he was climbing a shelf to get to his camp. As in life his foot slipped and he fell. It was dark enough that he could not see below him, but his rope caught. At the moment shaken, but secured. He cry’s out..Dear God save me. He hears a voice do you honestly believe I can save you? Yes Lord, you’re God after all. Of course you can. The man hears something he never thought he would..cut the rope. Of course he argues. The Lord responds “Do you trust?” Of course Lord, but? it gets cold on the mountain tops and the man was found the next day, frozen fists clung to the rope..his feet 6 inches from the ground. Brothers, GAOTU uses us s living stones for the temple and the buil...

  A person who doesn’t have a cent, is not poor, but a person who doesn’t have ambition is poor. I have met a lot of poor rich people. But seems I’ve met more rich poor people. Read that again. There have been days in my life where dinner was some cup o soup and we gave thanks for the hot dogs in it. We’re we poor? Maybe on paper. Being penniless may make you destitute in the eyes of man. Most men judge on the outward. But the condition of the heart and soul? That is your wealth. No I am not “preaching” a religious ideology. But how do you view your current position? You my brothers are Craftsmen of the King. Continue to build the temple (which is the inner man). It’s beauty is your reward. I love you and may we govern ourselves accordingly

  Well Brothers, it’s that time again. After 8 hours at my vocation it’s time to spend 8 in relaxation and reflection. So pull up a chair. There are glasses on the counter and let’s reflect a bit. I love this time of day. It allows me to focus a bit. Share a thought and spark some discussion. That’s how we learn after all. Yesterdays thought sure sparked a bit. Everything from “Good council” to “over sharing”. I want to say from the git go. You will not find me overstepping here. I’m very careful not to. If I ever do...you’ll never see it. I know one Brother that reads my stuff religiously and I’m sure has me on speed dial. I’d get a notice as soon as I hit “post”. But what part of keeping your word and your integrity is out of bounds? Was it discussion about the Hiram myth? It’s all online. In fact Masonry as a whole is online and available for the “faithful” as well as the “profane”. What I will not discuss is what happens in our degree work. Why? Well because ever...

  Je t'aime Te amo Ya ti-bya lyu blyu Ani o hev ot cha I am posting this the day after Sept 11. This day has bothered me for over twenty years. I remember that day everything happened. On my way to work, not knowing anything had gone wrong. I will not go into all of the details. But I will say I remember a picture of a young Jewish girl. She was holding a sign that said: “Today we are all USA”. I am not going to write about the politics of that day. But, for obvious reasons, it caused a lot of pain and hurt. Some I feel we hold on to, to this very day. I heard slurs and attacks against people we did not and maybe do not know. We spend so much time looking at the differences, but very little time looking at what makes us the same. We work, we laugh, and we know hardships. It makes no difference if it is our faith, the color of our skin, or our economic standing. It seems the voice of our differences speaks louder than what makes us the same. Maybe it is easier to foc...

  “Never let the future disturb you. You will meet it, if you have to, with the same weapons of reason which today arm you against the present.” ― Marcus Aurelius Wow, does this sure speak volumes. Do not worry about tomorrow, leave it to itself. Sometimes easier said than done. In my personal vocation a few years ago I changed tasks. Going from one department to another. We had an organization change. Being new it scared me to near death. I stressed and worried about it every day for close to a year. In the end I’m still there and a much better Tech. Do I still have a lot to learn? Of course. But where would I be if I didn’t stress and worry. All I did was hold myself back. It’s the same in our Craft and in life. The battle is fought in our minds. Win or lose is up to us. We have the weapons of reason already, we just need to trust, and deploy them. Carpe diem, and be victorious I love you and may we govern ourselves accordingly

  He who conquers himself is the mightiest warrior.” — Confucius Somedays we have it all figured out. Others we just don’t seem to have a clue. It’s all a part of the journey of life. Finding those rough spots on our stone. I am not saying the rough spots are bad. Quite the contrary. They show us bits and pieces of ourself. After all we are here to learn and experience. What work needs to be done on a smooth stone? So take a moment over your morning coffee. Evaluate where you are and feel for those jagged edges. Knowing they are there is half the work. I love you and may we govern ourselves accordingly

  If just for today. I will live like there is no tomorrow. Because for some, there isn’t. If just for today. I will love all of those I come in contact with. Even if we disagree. Because I have seen the cancer of hate. If just for today. I will stop and listen. Not to just hear, but to understand. Because so many don’t. If just for today. I will laugh and allow my heart to know joy. Because tomorrow it may know sorrow. If just for today. The Deity in me will honor the Deity in you. Because we are all the reflection of the most high. Even if you have not met yours. If just for today. I will look you in the eye and recognize your struggles. Because I have had my own. If just for today. I will treat you as family. Because in the big picture, we are. If just for today….it’s always today I love you and may we govern ourselves accordingly

  I love the works of Marcus Aurelius, Confucius, Proverbs (mainly credited to Solomon), and that Bro. Duane Marshall guy, lol. Have you ever had something in your life that has just bugged you to no end? Crap you know you need to let go of but for some reason you just can’t. The stuff that vexes your spirit does not serve you. Does not cause growth and is a continuous rough spot on your Ashlar. In the end “He who kicks dead horse, breaks own foot. - Bro. Duane Marshall”  You are called to control your destiny, not the other way around. I love you and may we govern ourselves accordingly

  From time to time my daughter posts a statement. It did not hit me till lately. I kind of ignored it till something whispered it in the back of my head. I went and looked it up. It is a very simple statement written by Pastor Nic Burleson. Why I have been reading a bit from different Pastors has me perplexed. But here you go. Judas ate too. In Christian legends and stories, Judas has always been the villain. But why? Judas was one of the chosen twelve. He heard the stories and was given instructions. Was given a promise of the “kingdom and the mysteries”. Yet, in the end, he “betrayed” the trust. From a historical aspect, I believe he wanted to push the foundation of the “kingdom” and free the people from the rule of the Romans they were under. I do not think he fully understood. Now under the Masonic legends and the story of Hiram, we find much the same issue. We find twelve men that were trained, given instruction, and given a promise of inner wisdom. Yet, in the Masoni...

    “- Connor: How far are we gonna take this, Da? - Il Duce: The question is not how far. The question is, do you possess the constitution, the depth of faith, to go as far is as needed?”   Last night I had the privilege to attend Hancock Lodge and a 65-year pin. Just think about that, 65 years. That speaks volumes for this Brother. Maybe it is because he came from a different time? One of our Past Grand Masters stood up and spoke about his commitment to the Lodge and the Fraternity. Of all the different groups within the Masonic Family, he was a member of. Then our Brother stood up and spoke about his love for the Craft. This was a breath of fresh air. We seem to have become a society that is quick to just discard things. A Bic lighter, a cell phone, a car, people? When the use gets worn out, we just discard them. That speaks volumes too. In the last 65 years, this Brother made an investment. Not only in his future, but in yours. I know what you are thinking...