Random Building Thoughts - 2024-05-03

 

-------------- LIMITS --------------  

 

  

 The Mark of an Educated Mason 

is knowing the Limits of Freemasonic Light. 

 

Brother: Is there a limit?
Coach: To Freemasonic Light? ABSOLUTELY! 

It's very nature is limited.
However, it's a catalyst for Masonic light! 

And that Light is only limited by our humanity!

For Further Light:
Distinctions

 

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

 

 

-------------- TRIVIUM --------------  

 

 

-------------- NOTHING -------------- 

 

 

It's participating in soul-filled harmony 

using only the instrument of your heart. 

 

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

 

 "We ought so to behave to one another 

as to avoid making enemies of our friends, 

and at the same time to make friends of our enemies."
-- (Bro.) Pythagoras

 

-------------- SIRENS -------------- 

 

  

Woe to he who trusts 

all Rough Ashlars Raised. 

Their sirenesque songs coax 

all toward destructive ends. 

  

 -------------- MYTH -------------- 

 

“You know the rule: 

If you are falling, dive. 

Do the thing that has to be done.”
— Joseph Campbell

 

-------------- REMEMBER YOUR OBLIGATIONS --------------  

 

  

Some of my most saddest and rawest moments occur 

when a trusted Brother robs, cheats and defrauds me 

and does so deliberately to benefit himself, 

realizing fully that his actions shall 

negatively impact me and my family.

 

-------------- HERMENEUTICS --------------

 

 

When you have not done both the Apprentice and Fellow Craft Work, you cannot rightfully say that any and all interpretations are valid. You literally don't have the foundation to support such a claim.

 

TRUE: There are Infinite Interpretations.

FALSE: All Interpretations are Valid.

TRUE: There exists within that set of Infinite Interpretations a Finite Set of Salient, Applicable, Valid, Optimal and Well-Integrated Interpretations; all other interpretations outside this set are Unworthy Conjectures.

 

This is what I apply steadfastly toward the research and writing of my books about Freemasonic Ritual to help Masonic Understanding and Practice get past the Bogus Specifics.

 

Hermeneutics (noun)

 

1. the science of interpretation, especially of Scripture

2. the branch of theology that deals with the principles and methodology of exegesis

3. (philosophy) 

a.the study and interpretation of human behaviour and social institutions

b.(in existentialist thought) discussion of the purpose of life

 

Word Origin - C18: from Greek hermēneutikos expert in interpretation, from hermēneuein to interpret, from hermēneus interpreter

 

-------------- SLING --------------  

 

No Lodge member 

wants to find 

his Ashlar in a Sling.

 

-------------- FODDER -------------- 

The World Sees when your Heart is not in it. 

It might as well be Taken Out and used as Animal Fodder.

 

 -------------- HUMOR -------------- 

 

  

 -------------- WHY BOTHER? -------------- 

 

If You're Not Applying It, 

Why Bother?

 

-------------- YOU KNOW... -------------- 

 

You know that your Lodge has major problems 

when Rough Ashlars rule the roost, 

a few Common Ashlars support Lodge activities 

and the Raised Ashlars have 

hacked, chiseled and pried themselves 

from the common mass 

to depart for committed Quarries elsewhere.  

 

-------------- THE KEY -------------- 

 

 

The key to bringing Worthwhile Betterment into your life 

is to do the Work for yourself and do so without waiver. 

 

As you do it, 

you shall discover quickly those Brothers 

who are engaged in this very same activity. 

These are the Brothers with which to share your Work. 

 Toward others who are not engaged in the Work, 

keep silent. 

 

What you share is not only lost on them, 

if they are committed to not doing the Work, 

what you share shall be received as irritating pearls to swine. 

When you do not want irritated swine on your Ashlar, 

Work discretely and share wisely. 

 

Remember the Cave's allegorical lesson 

and stay clear of chained cave dwellers;

 they will do you no good by your sharing.

 

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

 

 

For Further Light:
TCU...

-------------- END --------------   

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

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Educational Materials can be found here:

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

 

https://www.youtube.com/c/JohnSNagy 

 

 

 

Random Building Thoughts - 2024-05-02

  

-------------- BRING IT ON! --------------  

 

 

To what Masonic Education 

makes effort to bring Order.

 

For Further Light:

 

 

-------------- THE DANGER... -------------- 

 

  

The Danger of Lip Service 

is no one Takes your Tongue Seriously 

after it's been Proven Worthless. 

It might as well be Removed.

 

  -------------- HUMOR --------------  

 

 If "Freemasonry is a progressive science taught by degrees", 

shouldn't we all be wearing lab coats?

 

-------------- PROPER DIRECTION --------------  

 

Even a river of manure 

once properly channeled 

can produce a cornucopia.

  

  -------------- EMBLEMS -------------- 

 

Emblems(1) represent(2) or epitomize(3);

Symbols substitute(4).

Emblems are a subset(5) of Symbols(6).

(1) a thing serving as a symbolic representation of a particular quality or concept

(2) be entitled or appointed to act or speak for (someone), especially in an official capacity; be an embodiment, depiction or portrayal of

(3) be a complete, mature, whole and flawlessess example of

(4) use or add in place of

(5) a part of a larger group of related things

(6) a thing that represents or stands for something else, especially a material object representing something abstract; a mark or character used as a conventional representation of an object, function, or process, e.g. the letter or letters standing for a chemical element or a character in musical notation

 

-------------- CAN OR SHOULD --------------  

 

FILED UNDER: CAN vs SHOULD

 

Transforming a man toward the Better 

can only be done through personal Work upon one's self. 

My Work has continually pointed my Brothers 

toward Working upon themselves; 

not toward working upon others 

or telling others what they should do. 

 I share my journey with my Brothers. 

I do not tell them what they "should do" 

to Improve themselves, 

only what they "can do" 

to Improve themselves. 

There is a major difference in these focuses.

 

-------------- ROLE MODELS --------------  

 

 

-------------- MYTH --------------  

 

 

-------------- INTRODUCTION --------------  

 

 

-------------- TO BOLDLY GO! -------------- 

 

 

These are the Voyages of the Blue Lodge Enterprise.

 It's Three Degree Mission: 

To Explore Strange New Ideas, 

To Seek Out Good Men 

and Then Improve Them Further, 

To Boldly Master What Few Men have Mastered Before!
(Hat tip for the inspiration to Bro. Nick Adair!)

 

-------------- CHANGES... --------------  

 

 

 Raising Brings about Beneficial Behavioral Changes.
When you cannot Clearly Identify how Behavior has
Changed for the Better, Raising has yet to Occur.

 

-------------- RUFFIANS & WISDOM -------------- 

 

 

“Wisdom cannot be imparted. 

Wisdom that a wise man attempts to impart 

always sounds like foolishness to someone else ... 

Knowledge can be communicated, 

but not wisdom. 

One can find it, live it, do wonders through it, 

but one cannot communicate and teach it.” 

― Hermann Hesse, Siddhartha

  -------------- 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 

 

 

 

Random Building Thoughts - 2024-05-01

   

-------------- HUMOR --------------  

 

  Me Too! 

Well, at least at first.

 

For Further Light:
PROSCRIBED!

 

  -------------- MASONIC EDUCATION! --------------  

 

FOR FURTHER LIGHT:
Politics & Religion

 -------------- MYTH --------------  

 

 

“Very often one of the things that one learns 

as a member of the mystery religions

 is that the labyrinth, 

which blocks, 

is at the same time the way to eternal life. 

This is the final secret of myth

—to teach you how to penetrate the labyrinth of life

 in such a way that its spiritual values come through.”

-- Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth (with Bill Moyers)

 

The only way to the end is through...

    

 -------------- GRAMMAR -------------- 

 

FILED UNDER:  

Trivium - Grammar...

 

-------------- WISDOM --------------  

 

 

 Wisdom occurs 

when the Work a man does to understand 

both himself and the universe 

guides him toward nurturing both. 

 

  -------------- MASTERY... --------------

 

When "Master" becomes Titular,

And Values no longer Remain.

Then Benefits trend Similar,

And Membership goes down the Drain.

 

When "Master" is Particular,

To Values held high in Respect.

Mastery is the Traveler,

Attractive to many Prospect.

 

 

 -------------- YOUR TITLE -------------- 

You're a What?

A "Master Mason" you Claim? 

What Masterpieces have you Created 

to Qualify Wearing that Title?

 

 -------------- ASSUMPTIONS --------------  

 

FILED UNDER:  

DON'T ASSUME!

 

Standard USA Apprentice Proficiency 

is ONLY a Map of Apprentice Education;

 it is NOT the Apprentice Education itself 

or the Apprenticeship. 

 

When you believe that you... 

 

a) have Educated yourself as an Apprentice 

     by memorizing and giving back this Map only, and

b) thus have Achieved Suitable Proficiency in Apprentice Work, 

 

it is a clear indication that 

you did not read and understand the Map. 

 

Likewise can be said about all the Maps 

that follow this Degree.

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

 

"Gullibility is a precious natural resource. 

Luckily, it's protected by human nature."
-- Bro. Kevin Noel Olson

 

 -------------- EMPOWERMENT --------------  

 

 

It is mind-numbing how many people in power 

boldly and arrogantly do wrongful things righteously, 

steadfastly believing that no one can or shall stop them. 

 

It is painfully apparent that these same people 

earnestly believe that they are right 

and that we collectively and shamefully 

empowered their insanity to affect us!

  

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

 

  

"Never be bullied into silence. 

Never allow yourself to be made a victim. 

Accept no one's definition of your life; 

define yourself." 

- Robert Frost 

 

...Or be prepared to die the death 

of a thousand scratches.

  

-------------- THINK! --------------  

 

The likelihood of Wise Decisions being made 

by any Society is Directly Proportional to...

 

1) the overall Maturity of those 

making up that Society,

2) the empowerment of its leaders

and

3) the Degree of Lemming Factor 

infecting its majority. 

 

-------------- BUILD! --------------  

 

"People will always throw stones onto your path in life. 

Whether you make them a wall or a bridge is your choice."

-- Bro. Tim Farster

<snicker> Or the Foundation 

of an entirely new book!

 

 -------------- GET LIVING! -------------- 

 

 

”Get up, get outside and get to living!”

-- Bro. Josh Pierce

(Side Note: If you know Bro. Josh's story, 

these words take on a whole different level of meaning. 

Bro. Josh suffered a broken back about a year or so ago. 

 

His determination to not have it hold him back

 (no pun intended) is inspirational. 

 

He's back on his feet and on his bike, 

now more determined than ever.)

 

Keep Inspiring us my Brother!

 -------------- CHOOSE -------------- 

For Further Light:
CHOOSE!

  -------------- 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