A Past Master's Thoughts

Today I really had a lot of things on my mind. It is Father’s Day, and I spent my day at the Lodge scanning our records for digital and historical archives. It was a pretty good day I spent it with the “Fathers” of my Lodge. But it allowed me to really think about some things. Oddly enough, it was really sparked from the actions of my Deputy Grand Master. When has asked me to be the Grand Chaplain on Saturday at an event I was attending. Now I have always said it was my favorite office, and it is. But I am not sure I have ever written about why. Let me fix that real quick. Get ready, this may be a bit long with a fair number of points. So, grab your favorite beverage and let’s take a journey. I grew up in a very, very, very Evangelical background. I mean as a kid, I attended the local Methodist church. BTW, I loved that the Methodist church would take a portion of the main service and bring the kids up and have their own thing. I always thought that was cool. Sometimes I was at t...

This morning, I was listening to a new podcast. From The North Masonic Podcast. It was the first time I tuned in. Listening to this episode it did not cover anything Masonic. But it was so very important that I am going to steal a bit of Garys thunder. Are you ok? No, really are you doing alright? We are living in some interesting times and sometimes they can impact us. Or sometimes we just wake up “Blue”. It’s ok to be a bit blue from time to time, it happens. What is not ok is to wake up having what I call a “Black Day”. When you stop and have thoughts of self-harm. Do I understand it? Ya, I do. I have woken up and had far more “Blue Days” than I would have liked. Even a few “Black”. Now, am I going to hurt myself? No, I’m not and for a number of reasons. The first I do not want to get to the end of all this and see those I care about ask me “I needed you, why did you leave”. I would have no answer. The other reasons? I still have people to love on and people to piss off. Both ar...

There was one a servant in the great Temple of King Solomon. We wasn’t a priest. He did not sing, teach or lead prayer. Every morning before others arrived he swept the floors quietly and faithfully every morning. Some looked past him and ignored him. They thought his work did not matter. But one day a traveler walked in. He had been crying and his heart was heavy. As he stepped inside he noticed how clean the Temple was and how it had a peaceful silence. The sunlight pouring through the spotless windows. In that stillness he felt at peace. He felt closer to his creator. Not because of a sermon, the music, a prayer, etc. But because of the faithful work of one man many ignored. It seems in life (and Masonry) we run head long in to the pursuit of titles and accolades. We want our name on the Marquis of the theater. We want to be the “headliner”. Motley Crue in the liner notes of their record Theater of Pain wrote “If the Crew does not roll, the Crue does not Rock”. How true Yes ...

Let’s talk a bit about “Traveling” it’s something we all should do. But, there’s a way. lol, there’s always a way. I remember my first visit to an OES chapter. I was a new Master Mason and was ready to see a friend become a member of the Order. I went and sat down. A very nice lady greeted me and we spoke. She asked for my dues card. I proudly provided it. She looked at me. Honey, that’s a Kansas Blue Lodge card? Yes, Ma'am, sure is. Oh, sugar, you’re new. We need to talk. Needless to say, I sat out the door and waited outside. I also went to visit a Lodge (funny thing the OES chapter and Blue Lodge were in Missouri). I was greeted and asked for my card, it was accepted. I also answered some questions and, with Brothers, swore an oath. It’s not just smart and polite to check out visitors. I mean, you as a Lodge greeted them and made them welcome, right? If not, we should. But checking out visitors is also a requirement. It’s in the Landmarks, the job duties of the Senior ...

The world seems to have gone a bit crazy. I mean gone is an understatement. We have been for a while. I am a firm believer that the basic principles of Masonry can and will change the world. If we would only apply them. While Masonry is not a religion and does not hold to any one specific faith. The Holy Bible is the principle Volume of Sacred Law. That is not to say that others cannot be placed next to it. One of the Lodges I visit regularly also has the Quran and just recently added the Emerald Tablets of Hermes. But we are told in Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” Please note that man is a short version of humanity. What does that mean? Well, to me, it means all of them. From skin color (we are all different shades of brown), nationality, ethnic background, gender, etc. All of it wrapped up in a nice, neat package called humanity. Oh, excuse me, I am mistaken. I mean my neighbors. If the G...

  Always pray to have eyes that see the best in people. A heart that forgives the worst. A mind that forgets the bad. And a soul that never loses faith. Life has a way of making us a bit jaded. Life can wear us down, and sometimes we look at people and not issues. Issues are temporary, people are forever. Sometimes we can all walk through life and step in a pile of poo. It happens; it happens to us all. The worst thing we can ever do is judge someone else by the amount of crap they have on their shoe. When we are walking around, trapsing solid waste on our own. Maybe that person is going through a real hard time that we don’t know about. Maybe, they are a bit depressed about something. Maybe they bought into the biggest lie of all. You know, “we don’t talk about our feelings.” Maybe they just made a mistake. Be careful casting stones at those who have sinned for having a speck in their eye. We may not be able to hit them due to the plank in our own. Why not take a minute and forgiv...

  Why is prayer so powerful and important within Masonry? Well, the first thing we are taught about this useful tool in our tool back is this. “No man should ever enter into any great or important undertaking without first invoking the blessings of the deity.” Notice it says deity and not a specific deity. Mainly, because Masonry does not hold to a specific God. That is left to your own spiritual path. Within Masonic ritual there is only one time you are ever asked your faith. Even then it is only asked, in who do you put your spiritual trust. Your answer defines your next steps. God, Deity, or a specific name of a deity are all acceptable. Much else could get you removed from the temple room and your evening over. When you take your obligation you are not swearing to deity, but to yourself and the Lodge. You are asking Deity to bear witness and give strength to uphold your promise. This is based on your relationship and understanding of the Divine. By the way I am a firm believe...