This morning, I was watching a short reel by Pastor John Ortberg. Not something I normally do but this one was kind of interesting. He was talking about AA meetings being held in the basements of some churches and a saying. “You can either stay upstairs and hear about miracles. Or go downstairs and see them.” I thought this was very interesting and it got me to thinking. I know, most things do. Within my Lodges we will have our stated meetings and conduct the business of the Lodge. Those are needed to keep the lights on and decide the direction the Lodge is going to go. But after my Home Lodge will go downstairs for coffee, cookies, cake, etc. My Traditional Observance Lodge will go to a local restaurant and have a meal. The goal is fellowship, learning more about our Brothers, and spending time. Sometimes the discussions are lighthearted about some of the education that was presented. Job promotions, retirements, and victories. But other times they are not. There are ...
One day a Buddhist Monk was sitting with his students in meditation. They had been there a while. Enjoying the peacefulness of the landscape and the shade of the Cherry Trees. In time the monk opened his eyes and looked at his novice students. As they each stopped their meditation and regained focus on their teacher he asked them a question. He said “Imagine you are walking, and you have with you a cup of tea. A man bumps into you, and you spill your drink. Why did you spill it?” They looked at him puzzled. The answer was simple. They each said, “Because the man bumped us causing us to spill the tea.” The Monk looks at them and smiles. While that does appear to be the logical answer it is in fact wrong. They looked at him with puzzled faces. “But, Teacher, we had tea and the man bumped into us and it spilled.” The Monk then said…your tea spilled as it was what you were carrying in your cup. Imagine you are the cup, and someone bumped into you. What would you spill? ...
“If you want to be a leader, you must be a servant first.” — Lao Tzu Within Freemasonry, there is no shortage of titles, offices, and honors. In the Symbolic Lodge alone there are officers ranging from the Stewards to the Master. Beyond that are the degrees of the Scottish Rite, the York Rite, the Shrine, and numerous other appendant bodies. Then there are District Deputies, Grand Lodge officers, committee chairmen, and more titles than most of us could ever hope to remember. But do those titles really mean anything? Yes and no. They deserve respect because they represent service. We should honor those who give their time, energy, and effort to the Craft. Yet the title itself is never the important thing. The work behind it is. In fact, the greatest title you will ever receive in Masonry is not Worshipful Master, Grand Master, Sovereign Grand Inspector General, or any other distinguished office. The highest and most noble title is bestowed upon you the very first day you enter the Temp...
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