Month: June 2024

I listened to a book this morning that was discussing the dynamics of cause and effect.  I couldn’t help but to think about how Sir Isaac Newton’s third law of motion was described to me in high school, “For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.”  Beyond understanding the gravity of Physics (pun intended), I pondered its relevance to Freemasonry.  Allow me a few moments to further explore that idea. 

Multiple sources attribute, “If you only knew the magnificence of the 3, 6, and 9 then you would have the key to the universe,” to Nikola Tesla.  While I’m not sure if Tesla really said this, this statement does intrigue me.  First, I have observed that the position of 3, 6, and 9 each squarely make up a quarter step of an analog clock.  This becomes very apparent when looking at decorative clocks in some of the lodges I’ve traveled to.   If you do some digging, you might find other relationships between these numbers that are interesting.

Continuing with the Physics theme, understanding one’s time and direction of travel unlocks the ability to calculate velocity: (avg) velocity = displacement / time.  Displacement can be calculated by understanding change in position.  Change is often mathematically represented by the Greek character delta – a detail that brings a smile to my face.  As I think about how delta is represented, I remember being told once that Geometry is the first and noblest of sciences. 

I consulted a dictionary and looked up the definition of Physics.  Britannica defines it as, “… in the broadest sense, physics is concerned with all aspects of nature on both the macroscopic and submicroscopic levels.”  All things considered; I get the impression that we can learn much from nature.

Further expansion on applying these ideas leads me to reflect on the importance of intent.  If we wish to see movement or change, we must put into practice forces to set things in motion.  Immediately I think of Covey’s two realities:  the idea and the realization.  These are eerily like aspects of cause and effect.  There is much to ponder about how one transitions from the first reality to the second, or how to get from architectural design to a physical manifestation.  If you will, please lend me an attentive ear for one last thought on Physics.

Frequency can be discovered by dividing velocity by wavelength.  According to Wikipedia, resonance is a phenomenon that occurs when an object or system is subjected to an external force or vibration that matches its natural frequency.  In the human sense, to understand if something will “resonate” with someone means meeting on their level and engaging with an attentive ear.  In my opinion, this is the first real lesson of leadership.  I struggle with this too – we all desperately want to connect with others.  We want to speak first and find common ground.  Sometimes we mistakenly think the best way to achieve this is to immediately share our advice or inject our experience in hopes of being helpful.  I heard a smart man once say, “we are doomed to see the world as we are and not as it is.” 

With that, I’ll shift to another science and explain another aspect of nature:  emergence.  Cells unite into organs, organs into systems, and systems into beings.  The complex structures that the cells unite into do far more than they could on their own.  What keeps them organized and bonded?  That’s an interesting question indeed.  In the case of human endeavors, there are many thoughts on what cements us. 

I give you these ideas as potential talking points; hopefully, a start to inspire discussions.  Maybe it will cause a Brother to call another Brother or two.  I’ve done my best to put that intent into motion with these written words.  If I’m on the receiving end of a call, I’ll feel blessed to be thought of.  I will lend you my ear.

Summer has passed us by at a rate that seems like it is approaching 299,792,458 meters/second.  If it went much faster, perhaps I could go back in time and re-live it; something that I’m sure the Einstein fans in the audience would agree would be quite something.  All that said, I find myself sipping on my coffee and reflecting on events of the summer, what I have been able to achieve, and what I could improve on.

It is important that each of us celebrate our accomplishments while considering how we can continually and incrementally improve.   … Afterall, each of us is a work in progress.  I have wonderful memories of family, friends, camping, visiting new places, music, motorcycles, writing, learning, and growing.  I also realize that I could improve reaching out, meeting new people, and soliciting their ideas.   It is something in the forefront of my mind and something I continue to work on. 

Recently, I had the privilege of visiting Nelson Lodge, Metro East, and Metro West.  At Nelson, we had a deep discussion reflecting on one of the great disrupters of our time:  Artificial Intelligence.  Inspired by concepts in the book, “Scary Smart:  The Future of Artificial Intelligence and How You Can Save Our World” by Mo Gawdat, we discussed and reflected on what we need to think about as Freemasons as AI unstoppably enters our world and impacts our lives.  It triggered many deep and philosophical questions about ethics, the nature of man’s desire to create, and what we as Freemasons will teach AI.

At Metro West and East, we discussed finding lodge meaning and balance between direction and autonomy.   It was a wonderful (sometimes vulnerable) interactive discussion about the benefits and challenges of both direction and autonomy.  Together, we continued to reflect on what we should be considering as lodges and individuals with those specific viewpoints in mind. 

For all my talks, I want to thank everyone involved.  Your hospitality is greatly appreciated.  Your engagement and participation in the discussion makes my job easier.  I also get the added benefit of learning from you – something I appreciate very much.  I hope that you will consider having me back for follow-up visits.  As I have shared in past articles, I love to travel and meet others.  Please do not hesitate to reach out and request a talk with me. 

Additionally, I would like to make you aware of a couple of other opportunities coming up that I hope you will be excited about.  I will be hosting our first education Zoom town hall on Sunday, Sept 24 at 8:00pm CST.  My intention is to have these types of interactive meetups quarterly.  Anyone is welcome and it is not limited to Lodge Education Officers.  I would like to hear your thoughts about Masonic Education.  Specifically, I would like your feedback on what is working, what could be improved, and any topics you would like to learn more about.    Zoom connection information is being distributed via social media and email.  I will also make sure it is on our Grand Lodge calendar in Grandview. 

The Midwest Conference for Masonic Education (MCME) is also coming to Minnesota in May of 2024.    MCME is a traveling education conference, and it is a great opportunity to learn new things, network, and meet Brothers from other jurisdictions.  I attended Ohio this year and made many wonderful new friendships.  Again, this is not limited to Lodge Education Officers and there are a variety of topics that should appeal to every Freemason.  The conference will be held May 3-5 in Bloomington, and the theme this year deals with educating educators.  The keynote speaker is Dave Baranek, a TOPGUN instructor.  To learn more about MCME, please visit https://mcme1949.org.  

Finally, I wanted to let you know that I have heard your thoughts and concerns about finding relevant information and education materials.  To help with the information overload, I am working on a Grand LEO virtual desk page to help organize links and content that I have referenced, articles, publications, sites, and education materials that will be of interest to you and your lodges.  I know education is a big commitment, and if there are barriers of entry getting to the right information, I want to address that.  There will be more information about that soon.  As always, if there is anything else I can do to help, please do not hesitate to call me.

I look forward to our paths crossing again soon, Brothers.  In the meantime, I hope that life is treating you well.  I hope that you continue to look at those that are around you and realize the impact you have made on them.  I hope you will cherish the impact that they have made on you. 

When I was young, I thought it would be neat to be an astronaut.  The trouble is, I didn’t have the discipline or grades to pursuit that dream. I was inspired by the Apollo missions containing Brothers John Glenn, Buzz Aldren, Gordon Cooper, Donn Eisele, Gus Grissom, Jim Irwin, and Ed Mitchell.  You can learn more about them in this Scottish Rite Blog.  It is interesting to reflect on what drove these Brothers to risk their lives and invest in the space mission.   I suspect it was a strong drive to explore the unknown and a desire to take humanity to the next logical steps.

While I never got the chance to travel to and step foot on the moon, I stumbled into a radio hobby that let me do the next best thing:  I bounced my radio signal off the moon.  Amateur (Ham) Radio has a lengthy and interesting history of service and offers many different avenues of exploration and study.  As I said in my previous article, there is no replacement for travel; that said, Amateur Radio opens a new window into the world with structure and civility that the internet cannot or will not offer.  As it turns out, many astronauts are amateur radio operators, and there is a strong Masonic presence in the amateur radio community.  To learn more, please refer to this short talk Bulletin on Masonic Amateur Radio; de AI0BP.

I would not have been able to achieve Earth Moon Echo (EME) without my Ham Radio mentor(s).  The frequencies we used are typically line of sight with a typical range of 50-200 miles.  To accomplish this feat took very directional antennas, high power, and the knowledge that the moon would reflect my signal.  This might be a far-out question, but how did I know that the returned signal came back reflecting off the moon’s surface and not by Marvin the Martian’s secret moon base?

The truth is I have no way of saying 100% that there isn’t a secret moon base.  What I can say is that I am confident that my signal bounce came from the moon itself given the other sources of credible and collaborating information that I have.  I am also open to someone or something changing my mind.  In today’s world, we have so many sources of information that it can be overwhelming.  Emerging theories like simulation theory cause science to collide with philosophy and make me appreciate the words of Rene Descartes, “I think, therefore I am.”

I would pose to you that we are here to think, learn and grow.  Questions that we might think are silly or that we have a propensity to disregard deserve more than an immediate dismissal.  “Silly questions” are what have caused us to grow, and challenge previous consensus and status quo.  I have compelling and collaborated evidence that the Earth is spherical and is a planet that rotates around a G-type star at the center of our solar system.   This is a stance that is very contradictory of common thought 500 years ago.  In that time, my comments might have gotten me thrown in jail (or worse) if uttered in the wrong company.  This highlights the importance of sharing thoughts and having civil dialogs as we discover our own truths.

In a recent eMason article, I mentioned a video by WB Michael Poll that explores the disputed origins of Freemasonry.  WB Poll acknowledges that there are gaps in our records that make it very difficult to say definitively what our origins are.  He acknowledges the research credibility challenges that our Fraternity has faced because of cited sources that did not have enough collaborating information to be historically credible.  These are the common modern criticisms of key Masonic thought leaders of the Victorian era or those that built on their thoughts.  In response, I think many dismiss everything that they had to say, and I think that this is a shame.  WB Poll’s video triggered a great conversation amongst Brothers – including reflecting on the idea that Masonry gave a safe meeting place for groups of free-thinkers.

I learned long ago the important differences of hypothesis, theory, and law.  I also learned that what is established can change based on new learning.  One of the great beauties of Freemasonry is how our teachings give us the foundations for learning and growth together.  Modern technological innovations put much into question and may have installed new values that I believe are at odds with basic human societal principles and maintaining our social fabric.  I have been reflecting on that and believe that Masonic teachings are key to our next important steps.   What do you, and your lodges think?

One of the great necessities of operational Masons was the need to travel.  This is a key piece of the origin story of our craft and translates into a great privilege that we enjoy today:  we enjoy the ability to visit other lodges.  I am sad to report it took me too long in my own Masonic journey to understand the importance of travel, or to capitalize and benefit from this great privilege.  It is my hope that I can help drive home what I see as its importance in this article.

Over the past months, WB Any has been sharing great thoughts on Leadership.  His articles do a good job at exploring key concepts needed to be an effective leader.  That said, the question might arise, “How does one become a leader?”  I remember a time when I was beginning to get more responsibilities and I found myself pondering this exact question.

Title might be a natural answer to that question, and as described in Maxwell’s book, “The Five Levels of Leadership”, it is an important one – but not enough to stand on its own.  The very first step is to decide to be a leader, and to spend the time to get to know those around you and best understand how to help them.  Being a leader means having people that want to follow you, and as Simon Sinek points out, that usually translates into creating an environment of safety and trust.  As the Worshipful Master of a lodge is installed, he is reminded of this – most especially with the words, “… and ever mindful, that though elevated for a time above his fellows, he is elevated by them, and should cultivate everywhere and at all times, the Golden Tenets of Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth.”

Expanding on that, one of my heroes Steven Covey points out that we are limited by a world where we are forced to see through our own eyes.  His famous book, “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People”, is broken into 3 sections focusing on internal transformation, transformation based on relationships, and continuous improvement.  He attributed his principal-based approaches for personal improvement on the words and teachings of Brother Benjamin Franklin.

One might ask, “What does this have to do with travel?”  In response, I would remind us that we rely on our 5 senses to understand the world.  The world is a vast and diverse place.  Plato’s parable of “the Cave” shows us how senses alone might not be enough, and how we can misinterpret the input we receive by limited understanding or perspective.  We have a much better chance of getting closer to the truth with different perspectives and understandings.  In my mind, this means if we aspire to learn more about truth, a continual journey of learning and relationships is needed.  This cannot happen without travel.

Modern technology is a wonderful tool; but it has its limitations.  It does not enable all the senses.  Additionally, it holds the potential for adding a second veil to the truth:  a reality filtered by editing processes which hides elements deemed unimportant or unpleasant by those transmitting the information.   … But we live in a world where these unpleasantries exist, and one might argue that these are important factors to consider and discuss.  The jewels of the Fellowcraft are priceless, and the order in which they are presented is equally as profound.   They always remind me to think about the relationship between listening and speaking; I would propose that this is key to leadership as well.

In summary, to become a leader in anything requires a decision to invest in adventure, and in the people that are around you – for better and for worse.  It is a decision to gather and consider multiple perspectives.  The best way I have found to do this is to travel, and to continually grow my network.  This does not happen by staying at home.  In your adventures, you will no doubt find people you want to follow.  If you are mindful of those that are around you, you will also likely find people that want to follow you.   Perspective is everything.  We belong to a wonderful fraternity full of different perspectives and backgrounds that are bound by a great set of principles.

If we have not met yet, my name is Brad.  I am humbled by the Brothers that surround me every day.  I am passionate about learning, getting to know those who are around me, and hearing their stories and what they have learned.  I will work hard to share that passion.   I hope to get to know you and invite you to join me on the wonderful adventures that are ahead of us.