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| The National Masonic Blue Pages "Masons For Masons" ARTICLES |
No one could effectively argue that life is not full of wondrously exhilarating and fulfilling life-expanding
opportunities. Some of those opportunities, of course, come to us because we enterprise to dream, plan, and
toil for them, while some are variously bestowed on us through the good and benevolent offices of others.
And some, for a measure of diverse reasons, simply materialize magically and spontaneously in front of us,
and more often than not, when we least expect them. Whatever the case may be, they exist in one form or
another and, for all our liking or disliking in terms of timing or degree, can most certainly affect our life in a
positive and meaningful way. This is the way of things.
Assuming, of course, that we are able to recognize opportunities as they emerge on the outlying horizons of
our life, we find that we are confronted with only two simple choices, either we can take advantage of them or
simply let them pass. There are no practicable or even marginally tenable third options.
We have all had opportunities which, at one time or another, manifested before us that were either very
exciting or would have, in some positive manner, improved our life in starkly marvelous and significant ways.
However, when the time came, we never quite mustered the courage to take advantage of them. Has this ever
happened to you? Have you ever wondered why you let those golden opportunities pass you by without even
making the least modest effort to take advantage of them? Have you ever wished that you could change that
life-limiting behavioral pattern? The fact is that you can, but only if you are willing to re-orchestrate your
thinking a little bit.
The reality is that you are not alone; countless men (and women) have experienced the very same problem. It
is a familiar malady that is modestly an insidious, life-restricting device, sustained, and arbitrarily employed by
the Ordinary Mind. Even so, it is one that is still not very difficult to overcome. Always remember that how we
think is how we make our world.
opportunities. Some of those opportunities, of course, come to us because we enterprise to dream, plan, and
toil for them, while some are variously bestowed on us through the good and benevolent offices of others.
And some, for a measure of diverse reasons, simply materialize magically and spontaneously in front of us,
and more often than not, when we least expect them. Whatever the case may be, they exist in one form or
another and, for all our liking or disliking in terms of timing or degree, can most certainly affect our life in a
positive and meaningful way. This is the way of things.
Assuming, of course, that we are able to recognize opportunities as they emerge on the outlying horizons of
our life, we find that we are confronted with only two simple choices, either we can take advantage of them or
simply let them pass. There are no practicable or even marginally tenable third options.
We have all had opportunities which, at one time or another, manifested before us that were either very
exciting or would have, in some positive manner, improved our life in starkly marvelous and significant ways.
However, when the time came, we never quite mustered the courage to take advantage of them. Has this ever
happened to you? Have you ever wondered why you let those golden opportunities pass you by without even
making the least modest effort to take advantage of them? Have you ever wished that you could change that
life-limiting behavioral pattern? The fact is that you can, but only if you are willing to re-orchestrate your
thinking a little bit.
The reality is that you are not alone; countless men (and women) have experienced the very same problem. It
is a familiar malady that is modestly an insidious, life-restricting device, sustained, and arbitrarily employed by
the Ordinary Mind. Even so, it is one that is still not very difficult to overcome. Always remember that how we
think is how we make our world.
Needless to say, there is a scarcity of elephants to be found free-roaming even in the wildest, most unsettled,
sections of New Jersey. So, what happened? Yes, of course, twenty years later, a little fox skeleton could be
seen still on the wrong side of the lake
Clearly, even after having witnessed much larger, heavier, animals cross the ice safely, the little fox should
have had the awareness that it would have been safe for him to cross as well. The question is why was he still
afraid to cross it? Logically, of course, after having witnessed 1500-pound animals cross the ice, the little fox,
weighing all of 15 pounds, should have deemed the crossing safe, but he didn't, and so he died without ever
having explored the wonders awaiting him on the other side of the lake.
Fear is an emotion that recurrently transcends even the most stalwart logic and typically interferes not only
with our need and desire to learn about life and the world around us, but very often undermines our ability to
expand ourselves spiritually.
When we think about how many times the little fox of our Ordinary Mind has prevented us from doing the
things in life that we have needed or wanted to do and the many opportunities we have missed because of
self-generated trepidation, it may cause us to feel somewhat foolish. Even though we know that others have
crossed the ice with much success, why have we faltered?
The cure is as safe as it is effective, but no one is ever cured by just hearing the medicine described to him.
We must take the medicine. We must not allow ourselves to be counted among those who, out of fear, miss
the wonderful opportunities available in life. If there are things in life that we have always wanted to do, but
were afraid to do, we must stop, and reconsider the fate of the foolish little fox. We must cross the ice and
begin to live our life to the fullest and without regret and must not spend all of our time merely thinking about
it. My Brothers . . . time is fleeting!
sections of New Jersey. So, what happened? Yes, of course, twenty years later, a little fox skeleton could be
seen still on the wrong side of the lake
Clearly, even after having witnessed much larger, heavier, animals cross the ice safely, the little fox should
have had the awareness that it would have been safe for him to cross as well. The question is why was he still
afraid to cross it? Logically, of course, after having witnessed 1500-pound animals cross the ice, the little fox,
weighing all of 15 pounds, should have deemed the crossing safe, but he didn't, and so he died without ever
having explored the wonders awaiting him on the other side of the lake.
Fear is an emotion that recurrently transcends even the most stalwart logic and typically interferes not only
with our need and desire to learn about life and the world around us, but very often undermines our ability to
expand ourselves spiritually.
When we think about how many times the little fox of our Ordinary Mind has prevented us from doing the
things in life that we have needed or wanted to do and the many opportunities we have missed because of
self-generated trepidation, it may cause us to feel somewhat foolish. Even though we know that others have
crossed the ice with much success, why have we faltered?
The cure is as safe as it is effective, but no one is ever cured by just hearing the medicine described to him.
We must take the medicine. We must not allow ourselves to be counted among those who, out of fear, miss
the wonderful opportunities available in life. If there are things in life that we have always wanted to do, but
were afraid to do, we must stop, and reconsider the fate of the foolish little fox. We must cross the ice and
begin to live our life to the fullest and without regret and must not spend all of our time merely thinking about
it. My Brothers . . . time is fleeting!
One day, in the woodlands of New Jersey, a large contingent of local
animals agreed that they were going to go on a little hike. Although it
was the dead of a severe and grim winter season, they were not the
least bit deterred from their outing. Walking Indian-file on a very narrow
path winding through a large section of woodland, they came to the
edge of a vast ice-covered lake. Fearlessly, the first animal, a large cow,
deftly trotted across the ice. She was quickly followed by an enormous
bull, a mule, and then a large draft horse. Next in line was a little fox that,
instead of crossing, just stood there staring at the ice-covered lake.
"Let's go, Mr. Fox! Why are you waiting? You're holding up the line!"
shouted the rooster, fidgeting impatiently behind him. Turning to the
rooster, the nervous little fox stammered, "Oh no, not me! I'm not going
to cross that frozen lake until I see an elephant cross it!"
animals agreed that they were going to go on a little hike. Although it
was the dead of a severe and grim winter season, they were not the
least bit deterred from their outing. Walking Indian-file on a very narrow
path winding through a large section of woodland, they came to the
edge of a vast ice-covered lake. Fearlessly, the first animal, a large cow,
deftly trotted across the ice. She was quickly followed by an enormous
bull, a mule, and then a large draft horse. Next in line was a little fox that,
instead of crossing, just stood there staring at the ice-covered lake.
"Let's go, Mr. Fox! Why are you waiting? You're holding up the line!"
shouted the rooster, fidgeting impatiently behind him. Turning to the
rooster, the nervous little fox stammered, "Oh no, not me! I'm not going
to cross that frozen lake until I see an elephant cross it!"
Listen . . .
| by Bro. James W. McKenna |
Brothers, the brief article above is one that I had written for the Saint Paul Valley Scottish Rite Journal during
my tenure as its editor. The point of the article should be rather clear enough: life offers us choices and either
we take advantage of them as they arise and present themselves to us or we let them pass by.
Although there are numerous reasons why we may miss opportunities, for both brevity and the purpose of this
essay I will only address two: recognition and fear. It would take little to explain why opportunities are missed
because we do not recognize their existence. Factors, such as inopportune timing, ignorance, preoccupation,
and yes, stupidity, are several possibilities. Suffice it to say that we have all experienced it.
The second reason why we may opt to let opportunities pass us by is simply out of a sense of apprehension.
That is, we are in some manner apprehensive about "crossing the ice" even though we know that others for
centuries have done so before us.
The purpose of this website is rather multifaceted. First and foremost, of course, it was erected to offer the
Brothers an opportunity to help, aid, and assist other Brothers not only locally, but nationally (and it seems
internationally), as well. After all, how could we possibly help our Brothers, if we have no idea that they exist?
Second, it is a way of helping us all get further involved in the Craft . . . it is the spreading of the "cement . . .".
Third, it is an effort to stop the erosion of Freemasonry and return us back to a time when the Craft was
experiencing its golden age. Of course, the fourth reason is a rather personal one: I created this website to
do my part and contribute to the growth and substance of Freemasonry.
What you choose to do now, most certainly, is up to you. You can either let this opportunity pass you by or
take advantage of it and by so doing help all of us in the Craft.
In the spirit of Brotherly love and affection, I am asking you not only to recognize this opportunity, but to brush
aside the debilitating and superficial values of a grim and cancerous "political correctness" that has taken
hold of this country and American Freemasonry and take the necessary step of crossing the ice as I and
other like-minded Brothers have done. This could only serve to further unite us! Please join us in this great
and noble endeavor and together we can make this happen!
my tenure as its editor. The point of the article should be rather clear enough: life offers us choices and either
we take advantage of them as they arise and present themselves to us or we let them pass by.
Although there are numerous reasons why we may miss opportunities, for both brevity and the purpose of this
essay I will only address two: recognition and fear. It would take little to explain why opportunities are missed
because we do not recognize their existence. Factors, such as inopportune timing, ignorance, preoccupation,
and yes, stupidity, are several possibilities. Suffice it to say that we have all experienced it.
The second reason why we may opt to let opportunities pass us by is simply out of a sense of apprehension.
That is, we are in some manner apprehensive about "crossing the ice" even though we know that others for
centuries have done so before us.
The purpose of this website is rather multifaceted. First and foremost, of course, it was erected to offer the
Brothers an opportunity to help, aid, and assist other Brothers not only locally, but nationally (and it seems
internationally), as well. After all, how could we possibly help our Brothers, if we have no idea that they exist?
Second, it is a way of helping us all get further involved in the Craft . . . it is the spreading of the "cement . . .".
Third, it is an effort to stop the erosion of Freemasonry and return us back to a time when the Craft was
experiencing its golden age. Of course, the fourth reason is a rather personal one: I created this website to
do my part and contribute to the growth and substance of Freemasonry.
What you choose to do now, most certainly, is up to you. You can either let this opportunity pass you by or
take advantage of it and by so doing help all of us in the Craft.
In the spirit of Brotherly love and affection, I am asking you not only to recognize this opportunity, but to brush
aside the debilitating and superficial values of a grim and cancerous "political correctness" that has taken
hold of this country and American Freemasonry and take the necessary step of crossing the ice as I and
other like-minded Brothers have done. This could only serve to further unite us! Please join us in this great
and noble endeavor and together we can make this happen!
| My Brothers CLICK HERE and cross the ice and join us on the other side! |
| Life Takes Courage |