At the last several meetings of my home Lodge I've been given the opportunity to give the charge at the end of it, traditionally called the 'closing charge.' There is one in our ritual, and it is tradition for it to be used, however, I take advantage of a loophole in our ritual that states I can use any charge, provided the evening isn't a formal visitation or review or ritual work. This provides a great opportunity to use the evening's events and a teaching moment, provide a positive spin and a goal for the upcoming month before our next meeting, and they've been generally well received.
As I looked back over them, it's becoming very clear the overarching theme is to take our fraternities tenets and carry them beyond the walls of the temple. I think this quote says it best.
Freemasonry is a philosophy on some levels. We aspire to better ourselves by learning how to interact with our fellow man by working to provide true charity, improve our minds through education, and work to better our own behaviors and attitudes - all aspects of a philosophical endeavor.
I know that I struggle mightily some days with this, but that's part of the journey. To take what we've learned from Freemasonry and apply it to our lives beyond the Temple. How many Masons do you know who put on and take off their masonry at the door of the Lodge room?
So in the coming weeks, as the holidays bring out both the best and worst in people, think about the lessons you've learned through Freemasonry. Are you putting them into practice? If you are and doing well, I salute you. If you're like me and struggle from time to time, take a moment and contemplate, why did you fail? What was the challenge you faced and how could you have done better. It's like I mentioned in Musings #41 - there are a multitude of lessons to be learned when you "fall" take the time to learn and apply them.
Then and only then can you say you're living Freemasonry.
A quick apology. I had every intention of sending out Masonic Musings last week and fell short, I didn’t properly adjust my working tools before my wife came home from the hospital. I would ask you to keep her in your thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery - short version, she fell and broke both ankles and will be laid up for several months. Her spirits are good, but the road ahead is long indeed.
Are you living Freemasonry?
I'm holding your wife in my thoughts and prayers, I hope that she makes a complete recovery.