Winter Solstice

The Winter Solstice is the shortest day (or longest night) of the year. Here in the Northern Hemisphere, we celebrate the Winter Solstice this day, December 21.

For Masons, the passing of the Solstice marks the beginning of the return of Light. (See the entry coming on December 25 for musings on solstice festivals and Christmas.) For Masons, it also reminds us to consider the 6^th Liberal Art and Science: Astronomy, the art by which the Wisdom, Strength and Beauty of our Creator is revealed. We learned that, by Astronomy, we can measure the distances, comprehend the magnitudes and calculate the periods and eclipses of the heavenly bodies – including the calculation of the Winter Solstice.

For many religions, the solstice is a time to consider life and death, birth and re-birth.

In Ireland, there is an ancient burial chamber, 500 years older than the Great Pyramid of Giza, and 2000 years older than Solomon’s Temple, called Newgrange. I visited there with my brother in 1998. It is a large earthen mound, with a small chamber in its middle. One has to duck one’s head to enter the doorway, beneath a transom (also called a “roof box”), and proceed down a narrow hallway that leads first a slight grade down and then a slight grade up to the burial chamber.

On the Winter Solstice, as the sun rises over the hills to the East, the first rays of sunlight enter the transom and penetrate to the innermost part of the burial chamber.

As I stood in the chamber, I marveled at what careful observations, calculations and construction must have happened over 5000 years ago to enable those prehistoric Celts to construct such a monument. Did they have a trestleboard upon which to draw their designs? Or was it a trial and error method – which would have taken decades to complete!

All men consciously and subconsciously marvel at the annual trip of the sun. It is well to contemplate the cycle of life and death, darkness and Light, and rebirth at this time of year.

For more information on Newgrange, including photos of the burial chamber, see http://www.knowth.com/newgrange.htm

Sherburne Lodge Installation

On Tuesday, I acted as installing Master for Worshipful Master Stoffel Reitsma and the other officers of Sherburne Lodge No. 95.

I, along with Deputy Grand Master John Cook and District Representative Don Nolley, were welcomed to the lodge in due form. It is traditional that the most senior Past Master of the Lodge carry in the Book of Constitution right before the Grand Master. On Monday, I was honored to have Past Master Stan Wheaton precede me into the lodge room. Stan was Master of Sherburne Lodge one year before I was born! A seventy-year Mason, WB Stan is a true asset and treasure to Sherburne Lodge and Minnesota Masonry!

Congratulations to immediate Past Master Ken Martin on a job well done, and best wishes to WM Stoffel and the brothers of Sherburne Lodge!

Tolerance Awareness Tuesday

Thanks to my brother, Mark McCarthy, from Cincinnati who forwarded this "Letter from Jesus" to me last week. Sometimes, it is we Christians who can be very intolerant. I appreciate the fictitious thoughts of Jesus here, and I can hear Him say those words...

Letter from Jesus about Christmas --

It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season.

How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Now, having said that let Me go on. If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn If all My followers did that there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.

Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1 - 8.

If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth here is my wish list. Choose something from it:

1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time.

2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.

3. Instead of writing the President complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up... It will be nice hearing from you again.

4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.

5 Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.

6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.

7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there.. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas" that doesn't keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn't make so much money on that day they'd close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families

8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary-- especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name.

9. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you.

10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.

Don't forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of all the rest.

Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and remember :

I LOVE YOU,

JESUS

Metro East Third Degree

Today, 12 brothers were raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason at the St. Paul Masonic Center. It was a great day! The work was excellent, most especially the three lectures.

In my remarks, I reminded our new brothers that the end of the initiation is the start of their Masonic quest. I encouraged them to attend the next stated communication at their lodge, so all their brothers could welcome and congratulate them. They should receive an invitation from one or more brothers at their lodge, but sometimes that doesn't happen. Don't wait - show up!

Participate in the next lodge event. Continue with Masonic education.

New (and experienced) brothers will reap from Masonry (as in all worthwhile endeavors in this life) what they sow. No matter how much a brother gives to Masonry, he cannot help but receive much, much more.

Congratulations, my brothers! I'll see you in Lodge!

Happy Hanukkah!

Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem by the Maccabees after their defeat of the forces of Antiochus. One of my favorite songs by one of my favorite singers, Light One Candle by Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary, celebrates the legacy of Hanukkah.


Light one candle for the Maccabee children
With thanks that their light didn't die
Light one candle for the pain they endured
When their right to exist was denied
Light one candle for the terrible sacrifice
Justice and freedom demand
But light one candle for the wisdom to know
When the peacemaker's time is at hand

Happy Hanukkah to all my Jewish Brothers and friends. Let's make the commitment of the final verse of Peter Yarrow's song:

We have come this far always believing
That justice would somehow prevail
This is the burden, this is the promise
This is why we will not fail!

For the complete lyrics, see http://www.oldielyrics.com/lyrics/peter_paul_and_mary/light_one_candle.html. For more information on Hanukkah, see The Jewish Outreach Institute information on this holiday.

A Little Optimism Can Go a Long Way

When the weather turns nasty cold, and the days get shorter, it's easier to be down. A little optimism, however, can pay huge dividends:

Psychologist Martin Segilman of the University of Pennsylvania advised the MetLife insurance company to hire a special groups of job applicants who tested high on optimism although they had failed the normal aptitude test. Compared with salesmen who passed the aptitude test but scored high in pessimism, this group made 21 percent more sales in their first year and 57 percent more in their second.

A pessimist is likely to interpret rejection as meaning “I’m a failure; I’ll never make a sale.” Optimists tell themselves, “I’m using the wrong approach,” or “That customer was in a bad mood.” By blaming failure on the situation, not themselves, optimists are motivated to make that next call. What’s Your Emotional I.Q.?, Reader’s Digest, January, 1996, from Emotional Intelligence, 1995, by Daniel Goleman, Bantam Books

There are many well-qualified leaders who do not do well for their lodges, just because they are pessimists. "We tried that before." "That will never work." ...You know the words.

In most instances, a slightly less-qualified leader with enthusiasm and optimism will have a much more successful year - and so will his lodge!

(From PrayND.)

Obstacles

Many thanks to Brother Chuck Nettestad and his weekly Peace newsletter from Alexandria Minnesota for the following story:

An old farmer had plowed around a large rock in one of his fields for years.

He had broken several plowshares and a cultivator on it and had grown

rather morbid about the rock.

After breaking another plowshare one day, and remembering all the trouble

the rock had caused him through the years, he finally decided to do something about it.

When he put the crowbar under the rock, he was surprised to discover that it was

only about six inches thick and that he could break it up easily with a sledgehammer.

As he was carting the pieces away he had to smile, remembering all the trouble

that the rock had caused him over the years and how easy it would have been to get rid of it sooner.

Reminds me of making mountains out of molehills. We do this in our lives, and we do this in our Lodges. Life and Masonry would be so much more pleasant if brothers would step back from the minor piques that always pop up in life and realize that there is so very much more to worry about.

If you're interested in subscribing to Brother Nettestad's weekly message, contact him here.

Red Wing Lodge Installation of Officers

Red Wing Lodge No. 8 had their annual Oyster Stew supper and installation of officers last night. It was another memorable evening for the Grand Master!

The Secretary of the Lodge, and also District Representative, Gary Thomas prepared the stew and a Christmas Pudding (shown with WB Gary in the photo) which were both just excellent.

A new brother by affiliation was welcomed to the lodge last night, and a petition for the one-day class was favorably balloted upon. Things are looking good for Red Wing Lodge!

I was most pleased to install Worshipful Master Ethan Seaberg and the rest of the officers for the ensuing year. The Master presented me with some mementos of my visit, which were very nice. Many thanks!

Tolerance Awareness Tuesday - I Believe ...

I have listened occasionally to a radio piece called "This I Believe." Inspired by the essays I have heard (including a very thoughtful one by MWB Harry S Truman), I wrote an essay on what I believe. It's a little longer than most that I post, so I hope you will forgive me for that:

Freemasonry accepts into its ranks all men of good character who have a belief in a Supreme Being. Tolerance and respect for a brother’s faith is a fundamental principle of our fraternity.

I was born and remain a Christian. I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He said, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.” I believe that the way to Heaven is only through Jesus, the Christ.

I also believe that my brothers who believe that Yahweh speaks to and saves them are not without hope. I believe that my brothers who call upon Allah have a God that hears them.

I believe that the Triune God can and does provide a way for all His children to be with him in Heaven. While I believe that the only way to Life is through Jesus the Christ, I also believe that somehow, the Lord God can and does accept his children into heaven.

How is this done? I don’t know. I believe that these are peculiar mysteries known only to Nature and Nature’s God, on whom we all rely for creation, preservation and every blessing we enjoy.

There is a story in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke about a rich man who asked what he must do to gain heaven. Jesus’ response ended with a recommendation that the man sell all that he had, give to the poor, and come and follow Him. The man went away crestfallen, as he was very wealthy.

Jesus said to his disciples, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples expressed astonishment at this statement, Jesus responded, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Who is a rich man?

In this country, the per capita gross national income is $41,500.

In order for a person to qualify for a court appointed public defender in this state, he must be indigent. That is defined as 125% of the poverty level. Today, a single person qualifies for a court-appointed public defender with an income of $13,538.

The average Social Security benefit for a retired worker in 2009 is $1,153 per month, or $13,836 annually.

In over 100 countries of the world, the per capital gross national income is less than one-half the indigency level or average social security benefit for a retire worker. In 142 countries of the world, the per capita gross national income is less than the average income of a retired worker relying solely on Social Security retirement benefits.

By that measure, most who are reading these words are “rich”, and thus are ineligible for Heaven, absent God’s good mercy.

I believe that rich men can and do go to heaven. I don’t know how. God’s mind is not man’s mind.

I believe that non-Christians go to heaven, too. I don’t know how. I cannot prove that they do any more than you can prove that they don’t.

But if God can get a camel through the eye of a needle, and he can admit a rich man into the Kingdom, then I believe that he can find a way for men of good will and spirituality to obtain eternal reward, even if they call Him by a different name.

I believe that God, through His Son, invites us, but does not command us to believe in Him. I believe we should follow the example of our Creator. If He can respect the decision of His creatures to worship in a way they deem proper, we should respect that, too.

Religious tolerance: I believe.