Everyday Holiday Lodge Meetings

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

Bro. Randy Sanders

I recently opened a calendar application and began overlaying multiple holiday calendars from different religions and nations.  It’s amazing how many different holidays we have daily across this terrestrial sphere.  Why am I missing out on all these parties?  We as Masons should embrace these festive occasions and embrace social intercourse as much as possible.  The grumpy and jaded need not apply here.

Thanksgiving and Christmas in the United States always bring to me feelings of warmth, family, and joy.  I try to celebrate by remembering what little time we have on this planet, and I encourage you to do the same.  Every holiday brings a set of emotions and feelings to different people, so I propose we consider every holiday special to you no matter which you celebrate.  In some way or form, that holiday can be special to you, and I challenge you to celebrate every holiday.  Yes, daily.  Take time during each holiday to ask yourself: Why is this day a holiday, to which nation or group, to which religion?  For what am I grateful today?  Even if we don’t practice that particular religion or belong to that particular ethnic group, we have an opportunity to look at some event that marked a point in time where some of us came together.  

Let us consider any holiday from another group that we may not celebrate ourselves, then let’s look at the accomplishment of that holiday as a means to reflect upon the outcomes.  Many countries mark certain battle victories, and certain locations or countries mark various founders’ days as historical moments.  Remember your lessons in polarity and balance, as some groups may not agree it was such a great day if they lost the battle or were displaced or similar.  The more important lesson is we moved on.  We can all celebrate the fact there’s no more bloodshed from that battle or underlying struggle to that particular event.  Carrying a grudge from generation to generation because someone’s great-great-great-grandfather was treated unfairly only carries a poison to the next generation that clouds the mind with emotion and prevents them from living in the present.  Here’s a hint at life:  That poison is a roughness to your ashlar.

Our lesson continues to be focusing on living in the present.  Celebrate today’s holiday with the family, friends, and brothers we still have with us, and keep a special memory for those who have passed before.  We may not have a future opportunity to gather and celebrate, so take advantage of this time together with gratitude and grace.  Take advantage of this opportunity for brotherly fellowship.  Our lodges should be full of smiling faces, of brothers and their families gathering in fellowship, and of coming together as we have done for centuries.  

Let us also keep in mind our own thoughts and deeds for every holiday.  Let us reflect upon the good deeds we’ve accomplished while looking forward to the future.  Reflect upon lessons learned and how that might reset our own trestle boards toward our own future.  As we pause to enjoy family and reconnect where possible with those not living nearby.  Let us reconsider our charitable giving so that we continue to help others not as fortunate as us.  After all, every day is a holiday to explore, celebrate, and share with others in the darkness or in the Light.

~RS

Randy and his wife Elyana live near St. Louis, Missouri, USA. Randy earned a bachelor's Degree in Chemistry with an emphasis in Biochemistry, and he works in Telecom IT management. He volunteers as a professional and personal mentor, NRA certified Chief Range Safety Officer, and enjoys competitive tactical pistol, rifle, and shotgun. He has 30-plus years of teaching Wing Chun Kung Fu, Chi Kung, and healing arts. Randy served as a Logistics Section Chief on two different United States federal Disaster Medical Assistance Teams over a 12-year span. Randy is a 32nd-degree KCCH and Knight Templar. His Masonic bio includes past Lodge Education Officer for two symbolic lodges, Founder of the Wentzville Lodge Book Club, member of the Grand Lodge of Missouri Education Committee, Sovereign Master of the E. F. Coonrod AMD Council No. 493, Co-Librarian of the Scottish Rite Valley of St. Louis, Clerk for the Academy of Reflection through the Valley of Guthrie, and a Facilitator for the Masonic Legacy Society. Randy is a founding administrator for Refracted Light, a full contributor to Midnight Freemasons, and an international presenter on esoteric topics. Randy hosts an open ongoing weekly Masonic virtual Happy Hour on Friday evenings. Randy is an accomplished home chef, a certified barbecue judge, raises Great Pyrenees dogs, and enjoys travel and philosophy.