Fifteen states in fourteen days – this is the adventure I’ve been on over the past few weeks. When it all started, I did not realize that this was where I would be headed, but it is where my road took me. The time was coupled with family, friends, shows, sights, smiles, good food, good music, and a few good books.
The first leg took my family to the Grand Canyon through several beautiful waypoints. This was not the first time I had taken this trip; I had scouted it previously with one of my motorcycle adventure companions. This time, I took a break to look at the Petroglyphs in Capitol Reef National Park with my family. The history here is breathtaking – reflected in the old buildings and more importantly in the Petroglyphs. It is impossible not to be taken aback by the age of these depictions – showing that there was human activity and works going on so long ago. While we may not know exactly what they were trying to convey, it is an interesting exercise to get a glimpse into their existence and try to understand what it must have been like living in the world then and adapting to it.
We continued our adventure on to one of the most beautiful roads I have traveled: the scenic byway on Hwy 12 on the way to Bryce Canyon national park in Utah. After digesting the majesty and beauty seen from Highway 12, we continued to the Grand Canyon and the beautiful town of Williams, AZ. Here I found evidence of Brothers – although I was sad that I missed lodge by one night. None-the-less, I knew they were there – doing good work. We continued down Route 66 (sometimes known as the Will Rodgers highway) going toward Gallup. Here we stayed at the historic El Rancho hotel – where we saw other smiling faces including Bro. John Wayne and Bro. Gene Autry on its walls.
After returning home, I made my way to Northwest Minnesota by way of South Dakota, Wyoming, and North Dakota (another story for another day) to join the Masonic Camp at Moccasin Valley Camp for some reflection and Brotherhood in the grounding force of mother nature. It was a fitting conclusion to the end of this specific adventure – surrounded by brothers who were anxious to learn, share stories, and celebrate the circumstances in which we are brought together.
I was also pleased and honored to present alongside my great friend Markus Müller. While together, I remembered the events of the past several days and was re-reminded of the importance of finding balance between the body, spirit, and mind (and the importance of Brotherly Love to that equation). I reflected on the importance of resolving ideas with action as events unfolded into works that will remain with me for the rest of my life. I found rest and rejuvenation in the nurturing blanket of the wilderness that surrounded us. I learned so much by listening to the ideas, concerns and excitement of my Brothers. If you are looking for such a get-away, I would highly recommend the Masonic Camp – which will return in 2025.
A plan was made and acted upon. Much of it went as planned, but there were some hiccups along the way (120-degree heat in Las Vegas comes to mind). We lived, we learned, and we continued to travel – with the support and interest of Brothers. Living in the moment, plans were put into action, and we enjoyed the experience. I think there is much to be gleaned from all of this, and the Masonic principles applied.
Time always passes by. This is a sad reality to our existence. Tomorrow may never come; this is why it is important to put into action those things you have been “thinking about”. Learning, engaging and giving back: a recipe that I would propose has helped humanity to continue in peace and harmony from the petroglyphs that reflect works from thousands of years ago to the smiling faces of Hollywood heroes of yester-year. What will your chapter say?
Travel well my Brothers.