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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