Thursday, August 31, 2023

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: 
 
-------------- 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:
 
-------------- 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: 
 
-------------- 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: 
 
-------------- 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:
 
-------------- BETTERMENT! -------------- 
 
 
When Fraternal Membership 
Exemplifies Betterment 
Better Men Shall Be.

For Further Light:
 
-------------- 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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Educational Materials can be found here:

 
 
 
 

 

 

 

Wednesday, August 30, 2023

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:
 
-------------- 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:
 
-------------- 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:
 
-------------- 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:
 
-------------- 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:
 
-------------- 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:
  .
 -------------- 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:
 
-------------- 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 ;-)

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You can also find me on:

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

Educational Materials can be found here: