Sunday, May 28, 2023

Random Building Thoughts - 2023-05-28


-------------- CHARACTER --------------  
 

My experience tells me
 that no Mason is ever made 
within a mere few hours 
 by being exposed to words and actions 
that only point toward Masonic Work. 
 
Looking at so many Brothers 
who have personally dedicated 
decades to accomplish this Work 
for themselves 
confirms for me 
that this is a universal experience. 
 
You didn't have to tell me 
that you're a Mason.
Your results shouted that to me 
long before you said a word.
 
-------------- MASONIC EDUCATION --------------
 

 For Further Light:
 
-------------- ALLEGORY --------------
 
 
 A man pointed to the hero 
and proclaimed to the crowd,
 "This man is a Lion!"  

The literalists immediately heard fallacy 
and proclaimed this statement false 
and the point-maker a liar.  

The figuralists immediately heard truth 
and proclaimed this statement true 
and the point-maker a sage.  

I realized in that moment 
how so much conflict is based upon 
incomplete, unbalanced and extreme views.
 
 -------------- HUMOR --------------  
 

 
The focus of some members is astounding...
 
-------------- MYTH --------------  
 

"Now, all these myths that you have heard 
and that resonate with you, 
those are the elements from round about 
that you are building into a form in your life. 
The thing worth considering 
is how they relate to each other in your context, 
not how they relate to something out there 
– how they were relevant on the North American prairies 
or in the Asian jungles hundreds of years ago, 
but how they are relevant now – 
unless by contemplating their former meaning
 you can begin to amplify your own understanding 
of the role they play in your life."
-- Joseph Campbell, Pathways to Bliss (p. 132)
 
So much can be learned from this. Will it be learned? 
By some, "yes", but probably not by the masses.
 Only those Chained to Freemasonic Caves 
who Yearn for Further Light 
May take the Necessary Steps toward these ends. 
And they must first break those chains.
 
-------------- CHALLENGE --------------  
 
 
The West Gate Has More to Do with You 
Than Any Other Man Who Enters through It.
 
-------------- APPLY IT! --------------  
 
 

If only more Brothers Carefully Applied 
Masonic Forensics to what they claim they have found
Perhaps more Freemasonic Flights of Fantasy 
would be seen for 
the Crime they actually are.
 
-------------- ONGOING --------------  
 

 
 RETENTION
c.1400, from L. retentionem 
(nom. retentio) "a retaining, 
a holding back," from pp. stem of 
retinere (see retain).
 
retain - late 14c., from O.Fr. retenir, 
from L. retinere "hold back," 
from re- "back" + tenere "to hold"
(see tenet). 
 
It PAINS me unduly so 
to admit that 
the more I experience 
organizational retention efforts,
the more retained I feel.
 
 
-------------- FILED UNDER: THE GREAT MISLED --------------  
 
 
And then I looked at him
as if I knew
and said to him in an encouraging tone,
"Son, just memorize it and it'll soon become clear".
 
(Inspired by what I was told as a candidate
and what I've overheard
as a member 
listening to others.)
  
 -------------- CHARACTER -------------- 
 

"...my beliefs are founded on KNOWLEDGE brought about by STUDY!
Never let your love for the Craft blind you to reality."

-- Bro. Colin Hart
 
-------------- FAITH --------------  
 
 
 
 God is the ultimate challenge of accepting possibilities that cannot be proven. 
That choice to believe regardless of proof is called "Faith". 

Atheists choose not to think in terms of possibilities that seem improbable, 
to accept this type of thinking and to invest in such possibilities. 
Things must be proven to be accepted by them. 

Masons must be both capable of faithful thinking
 and be fully engaged in thinking this way 
to bring about what appears to be impossible 
by those who are limited in their thinking. 
 
In other words, 
the very definition of Mason is a person of Faith. 
Those who lack Faith, 
in its various forms, 
shall be forever challenged by their limited thinking.
 
-------------- TRUE STORY --------------  
 
I received a not so pleasant call from a Brother who had just finished
reading this book. He complained that I was recommending that we spy on our Brothers. I asked him to reread page 14 and then go to the last lines in the back of the book. He did and then said, "Well, I understand what you were trying to do, but you could have wrote the book differently." I replied, "Yes, but then it would not have the intended impact."
 
Fast forward a year later... 
 
I get a call from the same Brother...
 
He said, "OMG Brother Nagy! I'm surrounded by a bunch of Ruffians! and I would have never known this had I not read your book a second time! 
THANK YOU!!!!"
 
Yeah... that's not an isolated comment...
 
It's titled, "Building Ruffish"... but I refer to it as "The Field Guide to the North American Ruffian"... and for firmly sound reasons...
 
A review of the book can be found here: http://www.coach.net/BR_Review.htm
 
 -------------- END --------------

 Be Well and Travel Light!
-- Coach Nagy ;-)

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