Today's The Day

Less than 12 hours to go until my Initiation begins! Its hard to describe the mixed emotions I'm having today: excited, anxious, nervous, euphoric? All of the above? I cant wait to become a member of the oldest fraternity in the world and humbled by the fact that Ive been accepted. I found a poem online today surfing around Id like to share:

They All Came Just For Me

By: Bro. Richard L. Jenkins
For the brothers of Cass Lodge 412, Griswold Iowa.

Something big is going on here.
Or so I thought that night,
As the Masons came to gather round
the Great and lesser lights.

One from here and one from there
From places far and wide,
They came to do, I knew not what,
As they gathered there inside.

But from each man I was greeted
With a smile and voice of cheer.
One said, "so you're the candidate.
The reason that we're here."

I scarcely knew just what he meant,
For this was my "first degree."
There must be much for them to do
Before they got to me.

Surely these guys would not travel
for the sake of just one man.
Yes, there must be much for them to do,
Before my part began.

The "Brother Tiler" was my company
As I waited at the door
To step into this brand new realm
I had not known before.

They shared with me the three Great Lights
and some tools of the trade,
That I might learn a thing or two
of how a man be better made.

When at last I had been seated
In this brotherhood of men
The Master then began to bring
The meeting to an end.

And with all things then completed,
They stayed a little more,
To eat and drink and share a laugh
Before heading toward the door.

But as we left I understood
And then began to see.
That they all came for one reason.
They all came just for me.

Dear brothers I pray every lodge
Will make new ones like me,
Feel as welcome as these brothers did,
When they held my First Degree.

Thank you, Brothers!

Entered Apprentice, July 19, 2000
Cass Lodge #412 - Griswold, Iowa

(found @ http://web.mit.edu/dryfoo/Masonry/)

The lessons come from the journey... So Mote It Be!