ENLIGHTENED MEN RELATE

Only enlightened men should apply.  There are times I truly think that ought to be nailed on doors of masonic lodges. So much time is wasted trying to rehabilitate or reconfigure men who aren't interested. We know their shortcomings. They see ours, but we go through a pantomime, neither saying out loud, fearing a loss of a relationship. It might seem idealistic, to wonder about the possiblities if all men in our lodges were enlightened, like minded and capable. We have all heard the language used- perfection, excellence and I want to offer some support.  They are concepts that need to be operationalized through our individual talents and abilitiles. The emphasis here is about relating to them as masons. I don't wonder this way of conceptualizing the relationship with masonry is lost to men who aren't familiar with the material. That is the nature of our culture. There is always an uncomfortable relationship between the status quo and innovation. Newness has to be tried and tested. At first glance, it is unpopular with the majority. History reminds us. Copernicus,Galileo, Picasso, Helen of Troy, we vilify what we don't understand. It might be one of the painful learnings of a freemason to accept we don't know much at all and catch ourselves being judgemental. At the heart of masonry is a question. Is it possible to remake dogma into awareness?  Can a man actually change for the better? And can a man be influences for the better with values he does not understand and hasn't assimillated. Can a man be enlightened who can't relate to that concept?  Obviously the answer is no. Masonry gives us the capacity to justify the free radicals who wander off what seems like an important path to understanding. But there you have it. As we like to remind, masonry is not for everyone. But for those who have the ability, it is amazing.