Knocking on Heaven’s Door

Dear Unknown Friend,

There was once a time, when I would come into Lodge full of confidence and energy. I would own it. Striding in and immediately asserting myself and my views. Such was my vision, so convinced I was that it was Right, my confidence was unshakeable, and I would clash with those of authority and importance, yet even they would yield because I had a vision, and the means to fulfill it. Despite the seeming antagonism in my recollection, Brotherly Love prevailed because of the strength of character of all men involved - these are some of my fondest memories. What we wanted we could do, and all we could do was good. We were prosperous, and could grow.

The Lodge was then, a luminous place. A collection of potentialities that threatened to manifest at any moment. Strings of causality would intersect with the Lodge, and bifurcate, and new futures were written. One came from Lodge feeling recharged, rejuvenated, renewed. Differences aside we all knew what we wanted to do to, and for the most part, the doers simply got things done, because those without vision simply sat on the sidelines and complained.

We were, as we ought to be - Builders. For those who choose not to see it – it was a sight to behold.

As time wore on, I would fight with Masters over what Freemasonry could be, and should be, and I would be baffled at how men would once held such Light, could come to know such fear and anger.

Now, as I make my way through the ranks, to join them, I can see how they lost their Light. I am not his fan, but Gingrich is correct – those that are elected to lead soon find themselves overwhelmed with the burden to merely preside. Change and enthusiam lost to constancy and and trivality.

I feel my burden growing. As I climb through the quarries, my thoughts are turned from my vision. I become distracted and embroiled with trivial events find myself presiding, with no opportunity to lead and manifest a dream.

Will I fall as they did?

A dangerous convergence looms. A decision will be made. Potentialities will cool, condense, and coalesce into Realities. The fact is simple: the Golden Age of Masonry has yet to come. We are but stewards of this Tradition, we must decide now to steer the hard path, or choose the comfortable and easy road. We must choose the very definition of Freemasonry, free of the machinations of Grand Lodges, and currently entrenched ideologies.

In doing so, will the Craft divide? Can this danger be avoided, is it possible to steer, and not break the keel?

As the current generation of Freemasons our great contribution will be choosing which road to take, for a decision must be made. How we make that decision is left to us. 400 years of ghost watch us with a palpable hesitation.

I wonder what decision I must make. Can a Master, or Masters, hope to make this decision, or steer the rudder in a new direction, even if by a bit, but nonetheless altering the course of a Lodge, or must I decline my advancement, and return the quarries and there hope to plant a seed, an idea, a new vision to percolate through the ranks.

When push comes to shove, how strong are the ties that bind – not to the Lodge, but to each other. Should this go wrong, we will scatter into the void, cooling embers of causality devoid of interaction and usefulness and all our fears will come to pass.