There are two essential lessons that a Worshipful Master or any masonic Leader must remember and apply when serving others. The first lesson is: Everyone does not desire to know what you know. The second is more challenging, to learn and apply: the lesson of your A, B, C’s.
A long time ago, when I was 16 years old and already knew everything there was to know, I was admonished by a wise old man that “A broken clock is right twice a day. You can learn something from anyone, if you will just listen.” It took me 25 years to understand what my Grandfather was trying to tell me, but sadly, he was gone before I could discuss it with him. But today, “I understand and know my A, B, C’s.”
A- All things work together for them that know the LORD
B- B- Believe on the LORD Jesus Christ and thou shall be saved
C- C- Create in me a clean heart, O God and renew a right spirit within me
D- D- Do unto others as you would have them do unto you
E- E- Each one walking in his uprightness
F- F- For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
G- G- Go ye therefore and teach all nations
H- H- He that hath an ear let him listen what the Spirit said unto the churches
I- I- I am the bread of life
J- J- Jesus sayeth “Suffer the little children to come unto me.”
K- K- Keep me from evil
L- L- Lead me in thy truth, and teach me; for thou art the God of my salvation
M- M- Make thy face to shine upon thy servants: save me for thy mercies sake
N- N- No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
O- O- Open my eyes that I may see
P- P- Pray ye one for another
Q- Q- Quench not the spirit
R- R- Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it Holy
S- S- Stand firm in the Lord
T- T- The grass withers, the flower fades but the word of our God shall stand forever
U- U- Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift my soul
V- V- Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep
W- W- Wait on the LORD, and keep his way
X- X- Except a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it abides alone: but if it dies, it brings
Y- Y- Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me
Z- Z- Zacchaeus climbed up into a sycamore tree so that he might be able to see Jesus
Now many years later, the lessons I have gained through listening to another sharing their gift of understanding has stuck with me. Additionally I became aware that to learn, you must listen. Yes everyone does not desire to know what you know, but if we listen to their point of view often they will respond and listen to our point of view. Today we live in the information age and society is more connected, yet we have become a disconnected people. We are disconnected from family and one another. People do not listen today, they are too busy texting, e-mailing, or rushing off to another meeting. Children today are being raised by “Sponge Bob”, “Dora the Explorer” and a host of television shows that do not have the ability to listen.
I believe it is time to become reconnected with each other and listen. Have you ever noticed the great lengths to which people will go when they want to do something? If somebody is determined enough to be somewhere or do something there is nothing on earth that can keep them from being there and doing that particular thing. Tragically we often get in the way of some of life’s greatest blessings. I thank God that I finally learned to listen, because if I had not listened I would have missed a blessing.
Often when obstacles or difficulties arise excuses are not far behind. Perhaps you or someone you know have made statements like these: “Well, I would read the Bible, but I’m just too busy.” Or, “I would go worship God, but I work six days of the week and I need one day for myself to rest.” What do statements like that actually say? They set the priorities and define what is more important to that person.
Often today we cannot get someone to sit down for five minutes to listen, to share our day, or to attend a church or a civic meeting. It has been projected that in our next general election less than 30% of registered voters will cast their vote. Imagine if like Zacchaeus they had to climb a tree to vote, how many concerned citizens would even attempt the difficulty? A sycamore’s branches are long and strong enough to bear extended weight. The key was Zacchaeus was willing put forth the effort to listen because this was a priority to him at that time.
I would like to challenge each to learn their A, B; C’s and then when the opportunity presents itself share them in your circle of acquaintances. We do not have to look for opportunities to serve. What we do need to do is to listen and grasp the opportunities in our lives. Opportunity for growth occurs through weathering the storms of life and Brethren, storms will always be on the horizon.
Consider the ravens for they neither sow nor reap and have neither a storehouse nor a barn; yet GOD feeds them: how much more are you better off than the birds?
Listening, giving a kind word, and sharing you’re A, B, C’s should remind us of God’s grace. Imagine how connected humanity would be if we would open our hearts and listen. Listening will require us to stop walking away. We may not have to climb a sycamore tree, but we will have to leave our comfort zone. Yes the storms of life assail each one of us, and when we listen to each other we become aware of their circumstances providing us an opportunity to bear one another’s burdens. I cannot promise you that you will always know what to say or how to assist those you meet in this walk of life…but I can promise you that when you pause and listen you will receive as much of a blessing as the one whom you comforted will receive. Because I have the opportunity to share what is going on in my life, I thank GOD for the blessings that I have received through listening to others.
When the storms of life come and the wave’s crashing are preventing you from hearing a sparrow sing…and you cannot feel the melody of life…recall from the recess of your heart the lesson of the A, B, C’s. Because I assure you God sees and he is listening, yes there is a secret place full ofgrace. There is a Blessing in every Storm.
Perhaps the lesson of the A, B, C’s can be summed up as follows:
Attitude – Have a positive attitude
Believe – Believe in GOD, Believe in yourself and live your faith
Commitment – Stay the course by remaining faithful to your calling
Lead by example, Leaders influence others by example – Not by authority or position; look in the mirror, examine what you see and change in yourself what needs to be changed before you attempt to influence and lead others.
Be Always Faithful and Be a Builder.
Fraternally,
Ken Dyer
Grand Master
