Random Building Thoughts - 2023-08-31

 

-------------- HUMOR --------------  

 

-------------- MASONIC EDUCATION --------------

 

ENJOY!

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

  

When you're not truly clear 

as to what is most important to you, 

your priorities shall be dealt to you 

and your time shall manage you.

For Further Light: 

Truth

 

-------------- CHALLENGE --------------  

 

Your Prodigality 

as a Man is a fact; 

as a Mason, 

it is expected to be reined. 

 

-------------- IMAGINE THAT!! --------------  

 

  

(Hat tip to Bro. SK H Glen!)

 

 -------------- SUPPORT --------------  

 

 

Your Choices 

should always support

your Values. 

 

-------------- MYTH BUSTER -------------- 

 

FREEMASONIC MYTH BUSTERS
 
1) "Ancient" is a relatively recent addition 

and came into usage 

after the start of the Grand Lodge Era of Freemasonry. 

See "Antients and Moderns" for more details.
2) The only connection to "Freestone" 

is that the word "Free" 

which originally meant "Superior; Excellent" in both usages. 

The reason these Craftsmen enjoyed certain "liberties" 

associated with Freedom 

is because they were 

superior-excellent in their abilities and skills.*
 

For Further Light:
 FREE
 
* Source: Building Free Men
http://www.coach.net/BuildingFreeMen.htm

 

-------------- WRITE OR DO! -------------- 

 

I'm typing as fast as I can!

 

-------------- WE'RE BEING WATCHED! -------------- 

 

 

A Shared Observation 

from a Non-Member 

upon which I sadly commiserate...

NON-MEMBER OBSERVATION: 

I want to know why the masons I have meet

 through my travels can recite a bunch of words 

but can't follow the order that it teaches. 

I have not joined the brotherhood 

and I don't judge the fraternity for brothers 

that don't stand square with mankind. 

This must be why masons are born not made. 

No offense to those who up hold there pledge 

and know that it's more then just 

being able to recite a bunch of words.

MY RESPONSE: 

I've been a Freemason for over 20 years now 

and to the best of my understanding, 

you're talking about men who have become Freemasons

 (members of an organization), 

but have yet to become Masons 

(Builders of Men).

ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS 

(not shared in that response):

* For Masons, Affiliation is a Means to a Noble End.
* For Superficial Members, 

Affiliation is Anything but Noble!
* For all who are Associated with the Institution, 

outsider Observations such as these 

are at least an Embarrassment 

but should be a Wake Up Call to Thin our Ranks, 

Beef Up our Quality Control 

and Limit Acceptance

 of Un-invested Males.

We are Watched

 by the All Seeing Eye 

and What It Sees 

Reflects Poorly upon us all.

For Further Light:

 Differences

 

-------------- STEPS -------------- 

 

With what do you Build?

 

 It can't possibly be your Mind 

when you have yet to Build it. 

 

Before you study

 theology and philosophy,

 climb the steps!

For Further Light: 

The Blue Lodge Staircases

 

-------------- WELL? --------------

 

(How well do you pull forth

 the metal from your ashlar?)

 

The Metal in the Ashlar

Do the Work, Get Result!

In a Lodge near you.

For Further Light: 

 WORK FOCUS

 

-------------- MYTH --------------  

 

“In the Orient, 

the gods do not stand 

as ultimate terms, ultimate ends, substantial beings, 

to be sought and regarded in and for themselves. 

They are more like metaphors, 

to serve as guides, 

pointing beyond themselves 

and leading one to an experience of one’s own identity 

with a mystery that transcends them.

I have found that the approach through Freud and Jung 

greatly helps to make this point clear to students

 brought up in the mythology of Yahweh

—a jealous god, 

who would hold men to himself 

and who turned mankind away 

from the Tree of Immortality, 

instead of leading us to it. 

Such a god in the Orient 

would be regarded as a deluding idol. 

In fact, 

heaven itself and our desire for its joys 

are regarded there as the last barrier, 

the last obstacle to release, 

to be transcended.”

-- Joseph Campbell, 

"Comparative Mythology as an Introduction to Cross-cultural Studies," 

in The Mythic Dimension

 

Wonderful!

 

-------------- THINK TWICE  --------------  

 

 

 "If you have to remove

 the Square and Compasses 

so that your words and/or actions 

do not bring discredit to the Craft, 

you should probably rethink 

your words and actions instead."
-- Bro. Matthew Shelton

 

-------------- TAME THE BULL! --------------  

 

From Everything 

that has been Made Up 

about Freemasonry,

the Goat is sure getting 

a Run with the Bull.

For Further Light:

GOAT

 

-------------- BETTERMENT! -------------- 

 

 

When Fraternal Membership 

Exemplifies Betterment 

Better Men Shall Be.

For Further Light:

Betterment

 

-------------- EXEMPLAR -------------- 

 

 

Don't ask me to Pursue 

what you've Pursued 

if you're not a Shining Example 

of what I want to Become!

 

 -------------- THE WORST! -------------- 

 

 

 "The worst thing 

a Mason can do

 is to stay ignorant."
-- Brother Nick Adair

 

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

    

 

Take due care 

in assessing someone overall character 

and do not be distracted by 

only one characteristic

 over the obvious character overall.

-------------- SANITY --------------  

 

 

 I can SOOOOOO relate!

.

 

-------------- END --------------

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

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 http://www.coach.net/BuildingBuilders.htm 

 

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Random Building Thoughts - 2023-08-30

  

-------------- HUMOR --------------  

(Hat tip to Bro. Nick Adair)

 

-------------- MASONIC EDUCATION --------------  

 

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

 

Don't ask me 

to Pursue other Degrees 

when it remains clear to me 

from your behavior

that you have yet

 to Pursue,

much less Begin,

the Work of those Degrees 

that precede them.

 

You're not an example 

of what I want to Become! 

 

-------------- APPRENTICESHIP --------------  

 

 

Apprentice Work

When Done Transforms Boys to Men.

When not Done, 

Promotes Boys to Cowans and Ruffians.

For Further Light:

APPRENTICESHIP

 

-------------- WORK --------------  

 

Sadly, 

for an Organization whose Foundational Premise 

is Transformation of 

Good men to Better men, 

it is rare to find within its Fraternal Ranks 

Brothers who are Aware of 

what Work must be Done 

to Better Good Ashlars;

 and far fewer Brothers who are actually 

Doing that Work.

For Further Light:

WORK FOCUS

 

-------------- CHALLENGE --------------  

 

-------------- ALLEGORY--------------  

 

It is only after 

the Organization resumes:

 

1) Tending its Roots,

2) Cutting its Deadwood,

and

3) Trimming its Unproductive Branches 

 

...that it shall have any Hope

 of come back Strong.

 

Till then, 

it'll continue as a Sprig of Acacia; 

Green for the moment, 

no Roots, 

and mere Potential. 

 

 

 -------------- THE OFFERINGS!--------------  

 

 

Freemasonic Ritual 

Offers Continuous Opportunities 

To Think more Deeply 

to Men who Experience

 and Study it. 

It is up to Each Man 

to Make the Most 

Of these Offerings. 

 

 -------------- DECIDE WISELY!--------------  

 

 

-------------- UNDIRECTED... -------------- 

 

 

EA Wisdom 

(Applying the CG to the RA): 

 

It behooves a man 

to first identify his Vices and Superfluities

 prior to taking up his CG 

and wielding it 

upon his personage. 

 

Undirected wielding 

dismembers aspects 

never intended for Divestiture. 

 

 Of course, 

identifying such things requires 

recognizing, understanding and examination. 

Such activities require 

Work, good vision and an unwarped mirror,

 none of which are done 

or used by the majority.

For Further Light:

Prepare Them!

 

-------------- AMEN! -------------- 

 

 

God, 

Don't Make it Easier; 

Make me Stronger!

 

-------------- EDUCATION! -------------- 

 

FILED UNDER: 

BLUE LODGE PURPOSE!

 

Know Your Steps: 

The Masonic Progression Map; 

Steps 4 through 8 of 15

For Further Light:

Staircase

 

-------------- PROVIDES YOU --------------

 

 Freemasonry Provides 

a Road Map 

for Personal Transformation 

and a Wide Assortment of Brothers 

who may 

or may not 

Support you 

in Understanding 

and Following It.

-------------- EXAMPLES -------------- 

 

 

Some Brothers Think 

That Having Vital Titles 

Makes them Smarter.
This is Sadly 

a Classic Example 

Demonstrating 

How Titles Stupefy.

 

-------------- COMPREHENSION --------------  

 

 

 You only Comprehend

 some Life Lessons

 after you Face 

their Consequences.

 

For Further Light:

 TLG

 

-------------- MOVEMENT! --------------

 

 

There is no Movement 

Toward Betterment 

unless you Move Your Ashlar 

in that direction! 

Yes, you heard it right. 

You Want Better? 

Move Your Ashlar!

For Further Light:

MOVEMENT

 

-------------- LIGHT! --------------

 

 "Light to the eyes brings joy to the mind.
Light to the mind brings peace to the soul."
-- Bro. Clifford A. Wright

 

-------------- MASON UP!! -------------- 

When any Organizational Coach or Mentor 

encourages or fosters 

your dependency upon the Fraternity 

for Further Light 

rather than directs 

and provokes you toward 

non-organizational doors 

that lead you to Further Light, 

you have a choice to continue down that road 

or Mason-up to what Masonry

 is truly offering - 

True Non-Dependent Travel! 

 

For Further Light: 

TRAVEL!  

 

-------------- FULFILL THEM! -------------- 

 

"When Masonry begins

to fulfill its members, 

its members will begin 

to fill their Lodges." 

-- Bro. Robert Herd

 

-------------- FULLY CAPABLE -------------- 

 

 

As a Master Mason, 

you should be fully capable 

of Rendering The Master's Word. 

If you cannot, 

it's a sure sign 

that you didn't do the Work 

that the First and Second Degree 

Directed you toward.

For Further Light:

DIRECTIONS

  .

 -------------- PURSUE AUTHENTICITY -------------- 

Freemasonry provides Brothers 

with ample Opportunities 

to be an Actor 

in many different Productions. 

 

Masonry, 

on the other hand, 

offers only Genuine Opportunities 

to be Authentic!

For Further Light:

Opportunity!

 

-------------- MYTH --------------  

 

"You know, 

I didn't write my books for critics and scholars. 

I wrote them for students and artists. 

When I hear how much my work has meant to them

––well, I can't tell you how happy that makes me. 

That means that this great stuff of myth, 

which I have been so privileged to work with, 

will be kept alive for a whole new generation. 

That's the function of the artists, 

you know, 

to reinterpret the old stories 

and make them come alive again, 

in poetry, painting, and now in movies."
-- Joseph Campbell,
The Hero's Journey  p. xiii

If you've read and appreciated my book series, 

then you understand who my audience is 

and why I have taken the time to write 

and publish my thoughts... 

I'm training my replacements,

 one seeking reader at a time!

You know who you are and, 

in knowing this, 

you too realize the unbelievable task

 that you're faced with 

and hopefully will undertake it 

once my pen drops 

and you finally hear your call, 

one that has been only a whisper 

under the roar of distractions.

Don't think you're immune from these sentiments.

 

You're facing the same situation now, 

even though it may not be recognized. 

 

All that you have done.

 All that you have shared. 

All that you have built. 

 

Who will replace you 

when your pen drops 

as well?

 

-------------- END --------------

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

 PS: Subscribe to get daily notifications

You can also find me on:

https://mewe.com/i/john_snagy

https://www.facebook.com/johns.nagy

Educational Materials can be found here:

 http://www.coach.net/BuildingBuilders.htm 

 

https://www.youtube.com/c/JohnSNagy