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VWB Greg Stewart Deputy of the Grand Master in District 4 of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Washington for 2003-2005 Mailto: underthetable@earthlink.net 13316 3rd NE |
Mental Downtime (April 2005)
What do you do with your mind while waiting in line at the bank or a traffic? Some people have a very long commute to and from work. Suppose you have a task like mowing your lawn. Do you daydream or put together a mental shopping list? People who are successful and get things accomplished are able to schedule tasks in an order that maximizes this extra time. It's like thinking ahead of what you will do next; clean the mower, sweep the driveway, check the mail. Sometimes order is crucial to preventing extra work. You don't want to sweep the driveway until the mower is clean.What does this have to do with Masonry? I know two Brothers, Dan Harrity and Frank Livingston, who studied the first degree lecture while commuting to and from work. When I study for degree work I have my cipher on my tool box and will repeat the ritual as l am doing an otherwise brainless activity such as an oil change. I will refer back to the book and correct my mistakes. The closest comparison is music and the rhythm of the words. The neat thing about doing stuff like this is when the ritual is going through your head at the bank the thought of being nice to the people around comes easier. We are thinking of keeping in due bounds and are in due bounds as this thought is turned into action.
This mental downtime not only applies to ritual but to how we conduct ourselves as Masons and consequently makes us better. Now everything works. The prime focus of our fraternity is to make a good man better. Most men think about joining before filling out a petition and that is the start of their improvement. Consider these thoughts while stuck in traffic instead of practicing the vocabulary learned in the navy. You will feel better and the traffic won't be as bad.
Thanks to both the Deputy of the Grand Master in District 4, and the Masonic Monitor which publishes his articles for allowing us to reprint them. The Masonic Monitor is published monthly (except August) under approval of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Washington. The Masonic Monitor can be contacted at: 6619 132nd Avenue NE, PMB 237, Kirkland, WA, 98033-8627, USA. Phone: (425) 822-4605 - FAX: (425) 822-2535 - Email: masonicmonitor@earthlink.net.