Waiting on the World to Change

        I was watching a movie recently in which a congressman is talking to a human figure that represents the living embodiment of the Creator and he asks for advice on how to change the world. The Creator character says that the way to change the world is with one "act of random kindness at a time." I thought this was a great message for a Hollywood movie to be sending out and it reminded me of the time in recent history when there was a bumper sticker like that on the back of many cars on the road. It seems as if today our society has become cynical and depressed due to many of the events of the recent past. Have we forgotten about the simple things that we can do to change the world or have we just been reverting to our survival instincts which happen to come off as selfish?

        Coming up on my first anniversary of being raised as a Master Mason, I am taking stock of what I have done and how I have grown in the past year. It has been an amazing annum and I have already become a better man than I was before taking on the challenge of stepping up to the call that we all have undertaken. My relationship with the creator has definitely become stronger over the past 12 months. Through the fellowship that I have been able to enjoy and the lessons that I have received in Lodge, I have become much more full of hope for myself, my family and all of human kind. However, I do not feel as if I have become the charitable contributor that I have always wanted to be and have always thought that the Masons could help me become.

        The United States is in a precarious position at the beginning of the 21st century. Our once and future great country, that was founded on the same tenets that our great fraternity was founded on, has fallen on hard times. We are in the midst of a paradigm shift that is going to bring a lot of changes to our lifestyles and before we come to breakthroughs, we are collectively going to have some discomfort that naturally comes from making changes outside of our comfort zone. I am of the opinion that it is our responsibility as Masons to look at these hard times as a call to action.

        Many believe that in hard times such as these, the government needs to step up and take care of the wounded country. Even though I think that the government should do all that they can, it is the responsibility of private citizens who have the means, to take care of our fellow men and women. As Masons, we have the capability to help and if we follow our core values, we also have the onus to reach out and aid those in need. There is so much that we can do together, above and beyond what we have already been doing. The whole of a Lodge is definitely greater than the sum of its parts.

        If you think you do not have the time, see if you can do something small and ask 2 more of your Brethren if they can do something small as well. Together, you may equal the larger effort of one person. If you live far away from your Lodge, find a lodge near you and let them know that you would like to help out as much as possible with any charity events. I guarantee that they will not turn you down. I am not speaking of financial giving, we have plenty of money, I am speaking of action. Take steps toward making a difference and encourage others to do the same. Sacrifice something in your own life for the good of everyone. If you can't do anything more, do some research on the computer for areas that may be needing charitable assistance and suggest it to a Brother that you think could head up an effort to help.

        In closing I would like to charge us to make a difference in our community. I would like to challenge us to be more productive and more creative with our charity in the coming year than we were in the past year. I would like to inspire us to take on something that seems impossible, with the knowledge that if we all do a little, together we can make a big difference. Help to heal our country and by doing so, heal the world. Even Grand Architects need the help of laborers to see their vision come to fruition. Let us prove to ourselves that we truly are a part of the greatest fraternity ever created and we can lead our country back to being the greatest country on Earth, one act of random kindness at a time.