Changing of the Seasons

by Senior Midnight Freemason Contributor
Gregory J. Knott 33° 

One of the great things about living in the Midwest of the United States is watching the seasons change from one to another.   As I write this, we are in the middle of autumn.  The leaves have changed colors and many have begun dropping gently to the ground.  It was just a few weeks ago that summer was wrapping up and yet winter is shortly on the horizon. The quick changing of the seasons should be a reminder of how quickly time passes through our lives.  

We learn through Freemasonry about the importance of the passing of time and we see it illustrated through the hour-glass. We learn more in the third degree lecture:

The Hour-Glass is an emblem of human life. Behold! how swiftly the sands run, and how rapidly our lives are drawing to a close. We cannot without astonishment behold the little particles which are contained in this machine, how they pass away almost imperceptibly, and yet, to our surprise, in the short space of an hour they are all exhausted. Thus wastes man! To-day he puts forth the tender leaves of hope; to-morrow blossoms, and bears his blushing honors thick upon him, the next day comes a frost, which nips the shoot, and, when he thinks his greatness still aspiring, he falls, like autumn leaves, to enrich oar mother earth. (Duncan’s Ritual)

By studying the lessons of Freemasonry we can understand how fast time flies by us. I encourage you to enjoy your life, embrace your family and friends and remember that tomorrow is never promised!

~GJK

Gregory J. Knott, 33° is a founding member and Senior Contributor of the Midnight Freemasons blog. He is a Past Master of St. Joseph Lodge No. 970 in St. Joseph (IL) and a plural member of Ogden Lodge No. 754 (IL), Homer Lodge No. 199 (IL) and Naval Lodge No. 4 in Washington, DC. He’s a member of the Scottish Rite, the York Rite, Eastern Star and is the Charter Secretary of the Illini High Twelve Club No. 768 in Champaign-Urbana. He is also a member of ANSAR Shrine (IL) and the Eastern Illinois Council No. 356 Allied Masonic Degrees. Greg serves on the Board of Directors of The Masonic Society and is a member of the Scottish Rite Research Society and The Philathes Society. He is a charter member of a new Illinois Royal Arch Chapter, Admiration Chapter U.D., and serves as its Secretary. Greg is very involved in Boy Scouts—an Eagle Scout himself, he is a member of the National Association of Masonic Scouters.