From the Master’s Desk,

Masonic family and friends, I ask for your indulgence on this month's submission. 

Esoteric Reflections on Golf

On a cold February morning years past, I heard my wife ask our own, if their mittens were on as they headed off to school. This was the prevailing question most winter days. My mind switched to the question she regularly demanded an answer to in a warmer season. Hers is a simple question, but one I can't answer to our satisfaction.  From May to November I golf, and from May to November she asks, "Why do you waste your time on such a negative sport?"

To underscore her opinion, she draws a rather accurate picture of the game while framing it in ridicule.  I strike a little ball, with a weird stick, only to chase after it again, and again on a pasture to an equally small hole I cannot even see.  The question annoys me because why I golf is not a simple answer at all.

It's true; I don't know why I play such a frustrating game or carry a desperate belief that I could be better.  Is a better score my motivation?

To what end?  I basically play against myself.  Self improvement is positive but what of the negatives in terms of time, expense and my behavior bordering on obsession?  I have tried to find answers.

Do I golf to escape all who would place burdens on me?  Or because I stand in a perfect place, above me a robin's egg blue sky, under me clipped green sweet smelling grass.  In this surrounding my angels and demons cease their quarrels and I focus on the ball.  The ball needs protection from temptations which seek to harm it; a crosswind, the uneven lie, even the clover it lies on will slow club head speed enough to lose the ball to a pond.

The ball is neither righteous nor vile, yet it does live with both forces.  It is expected that a golfer will loudly praise the ball in its flight down the fairway or encourage it to turn back if it appears to be choosing an unholy direction where it may find itself lost, or worse, abandoned.

The mental distortion to become the golf ball is not too great. Nor is it hard to see the brambles, lateral hazards, and the Out of Bounds as sin with its unavoidable consequences. These encourage me to stay on the righteous path.

What does a tee shot, an approach shot or any single flight of the ball teach? I invest in every shot I take. Do I invest as much in others?

Then it happened with one particular swing.  I strained at the shot as always.  I could feel the synchronization of swing to ball, thus exciting me in a way not explainable in terms of that simple act. The ball freed, thrust up, out of temptations way and sailed precisely as its creator intended.  I felt it too and I soared with that ball.  The ball had salvation freely given it, it did not earn it and neither have I.  That ball accepted the gift given it and its chains were broken.

I heard someone say "WOW who was that?" One's behavior does not go unseen.  I decided to let the ball answer for me. When I swung again, I expected the ball would show praise and gratitude for the gift it had just received.  However, with arrogance, it vanished into the cattails and mud, its old temptations.  My contentment vanished with it.  I have not been able to repeat the experience.

With May not far off, I will again be on many golf courses.  Perhaps this year I will get closer to an answer for both her and I.

The Chaplain’s Corner

Well, Brothers, if you haven’t been reminded yet by the advertisements, your wife, or your significant other, Valentine’s Day is here again. As the poets say, this is the month of love. I leave it to you whether it is a celebration or just another day; one among many. For me, it is a celebration – a celebration of love. Love for my God, my wife and family, and my brethren.

Brotherly love is one of the foundations of our fraternity. Interestingly enough, our Book of Sacred Laws speaks of love at almost every turn. The original text of the New Testament was written in Greek which had three different words for love:

ú         Eros is the noun for passionate love, with sensual desire and longing. With contemplation it becomes an appreciation of the beauty within that person, or even becomes appreciation of beauty itself.

ú         Philia is the noun used to describe a general type of love, love between family members, love for friends, and love for community. It is a general affection or concern, rather than the physical attraction suggested by "eros"; it is the root word for Philadelphia (the City of brotherly love) and philanthropy.

ú          Agape is an action verb and often refers to a general affection or concern, rather than the physical attraction suggested by "eros". Agape is used in ancient texts and the New Testament to express feelings for a good meal, the feelings for a spouse, and for one's children. Many biblical scholars concluded that the verb's use in the New Testament is simply to describe God’s love for humanity and is illustrated by self-sacrificing, giving love to all -- both friend and enemy.

The Grand Lodge of Virginia puts it very well: “Freemasonry is dedicated to the Brotherhood of Man under the Fatherhood of God. Its singular purpose is to make good men better. Its bonds are friendship, compassion, and brotherly love. “

In my opinion, the Brotherly love of Freemasonry is somewhere between Philia and Agape. Masonic organizations sponsor a variety of philanthropies, including scholarship programs for young people, hospital support, and perform public service activities in their communities. Our brethren most assuredly share a general affection for each other, a sharing of mutual ideals and morals, a self-sacrificing love for the good of our Brothers, and our shared love for our Creator. By God's grace and mercy, we are asked to "love" someone for whom we may not necessarily like or love in the sense of having warm fuzzy emotional feelings. Masonic love is a love that acts in the best interest of the other person. The classic biblical text on this self-sacrificial love is the well-known biblical verse, John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son....".

As many may also recall, Bobbie Burns, that fine Scott poet and Mason, wrote the Masonic song, which ends with the words:

May secrecy round be the mystical bound,
And brotherly Love be the centre!'

Prayers for our Brothers and their Families

Please feel free to send me the names of any of our Brothers and/or their family members, who may be in distress as we pray to our creator for their comfort and relief. When we think of our experiences in taking the third degree, we cannot help but remember the words from Ecclesiastes: “Remember now thy creator . . .”  and please remember those listed below in your prayers. We name the welfare of our brethren in our petitions because we love them; and knowing our own need of their prayers, we realize their need of ours.

Be still – and know. . .