Miracles...You won't find them in the Temple



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 talks of hard times, struggles, and disappointments. As Frank Sinatra says “That’s Life”.

We say we take “Good men and make them better”. I have an issue with that as I cannot make you anything. That is a personal choice. But also “Good” does not mean “perfect”. We all have our burrs and issues we deal with.

The cool thing about these after meeting activities is awesome. All the “trappings” of Masonry stay in the Temple room, where they belong.  The Hat, Officer Jewels, Aprons, Titles.  All of it ever leaves the Temple Room door. The only thing that should ever leave a Temple room is a Brother wanting to be a Brother.

Masonry is not a religion. I honestly do not care what faith you follow. I would be interested in learning its basic ideas. But, that’s a topic for another day.  Masonry however is a Spiritual thing. A powerful thing.

But what does Masonry offer? Brotherly Love and relief for sure. But this requires Truth. Truth with ourselves and our Brothers who we Obligated ourselves in front of at our altar.

This is just one of the Spiritual points of Masonry and maybe the most important.

The funny thing is people that are not Masons search and search for our “Hidden secrets”.  They are not really all that hidden. 

To my Masonic Brothers let me say this last thing, well for this thought anyway. You may get Masonic instruction within the Temple room. It does not mean much until you apply it in the Basement, or Festive Board.

 “Spiritual power can flow in almost any circumstance, but it cannot flow when people hide and pretend to be what we are not.”

 I love you and may we govern ourselves accordingly

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