Musings of the Mind

While Im learning to subdue my passions, Im also learning that I dont seem to be able to remember things like I did when I was younger! Granted, 45 isnt real old. Sadly during my youth I, well lets just say Im paying for unsubdued passions. It amazes me how much trouble I have at times remembering the words that I just learned a week before! Not only that but the words from just a few minutes before seem to slip away in nothingness! But Im struggling through with the patient assistance of my mentor and friend. After a few weeks Im "at the alter" and about to be starting Part 2 next week.

I often hear the nay sayers saying that Freemasonry is on its death bed. Maybe it is in some areas. I only know what I see first hand here in NE Texas. Our lodge is getting a LOT of petitions! There 4 EAs last month, we have a double scheduled next week, and another double after that or early next month. There were also 5 new petitions delivered at the stated meeting last week. I know of at least 2 other lodges near by that have had 5+ EA degrees in the last month or 2 and more planned this month. Im excited! Its great going by the lodge on a whim and finding people there doing degree work or practice!

One of our new community projects is a simple one, but one that is saving tax payer dollars and paying off in ways I can only guess at. We have a very old and historic cemetery in town, owned by the city with a state historical marker. This cemetery has several Congressmen, Governors, gunmen, founding fathers in this area among the many that are buried there. Our lodge has taken on the task of helping to maintain a section on our own and from what I understand another section is being maintained by us and another lodge jointly. This is the Masonic Section.

Im very excited about this! Ive always had this thing about cemeteries and hate seeing one that is in bad repair or not well maintained. I remember my grandmother saying she hated to see flat graves. She said it was like the person buried there had been forgotten. Sadly most cemeteries today require them to be flat to keep the mowing easier.

This particular cemetery has a very special meaning to me. You see, my grandmother and my grandfather are buried here. More so, when I was a kid, I spent a lot of time at their house, a few weekends a month and at least a week or more every summer. I remember many a hot day my grandfather and I would walk down the road from their house to this cemetery to see his sister and her husband.

They were the sextons there and lived on the property. My great-uncle would always put me to work pushing a mower around, helping pick up trash, picking up tree limbs. I was always rewarded with a sandwich and a cold drink. After my grandmother and grandfather passed I always made a special point to stop by and see my Great Aunt and Uncle when I was in the area.

About the time I joined the military back in 1980 she passed away too and was buried next to my grandparents. They tore down their old house about 20 years ago. I still go by and see them as often as I can and drive by there every day on the way to and from work. Its a beautiful cemetery with a lot of history, and a very special history to me. Im very proud of the fact that our lodge is helping keep the old place up!

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