Take A Few Minutes Every Day To Broaden Your Horizons - Revisited

by Midnight Freemason Founder

Todd E. Creason 33˚

Notes by

RW:. Robert Johnson

"There is nothing so stupid as the educated man if you get him off the thing he was educated in."

~Will Rogers

Claremore Lodge No. 53, Oklahoma

Editors Note: When this piece was originally authored back in 2011 by Ill. Bro. Creason, I hadn't gotten into this whole "Internet Masonry" thing. From time to time, I go back in the archive of pieces written and pull one back to the top. Such is the case with this one. In the opening quote Will Rogers hits us with some stark truth. Are we that guy? Are we so educated in just that one thing that we are oblivious to all other things? Bro. Creason brings to light something here which speaks to the general cognitive dissonance many of us feel when presented with ideas and concepts we aren't familiar with. We'd rather just keep on going with what we know, many times, even if it's been proven wrong. Take a minute, read through this and maybe take a challenge. All the best, and a Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukah to all. ~RJ

People have a tendency to stick with the things that interest them.  It's only natural to study and learn about the things that you find endlessly fascinating, but at the same time, it can be a little limiting.  I try to take a little time each day to explore the world, and it's way easier to do now than it was twenty years ago.  These little daily adventures over the years have lead to me to become interested in a number of subjects (not just Freemasonry and American history).  In fact, my original interest in Freemasonry came from surfing expeditions I did after seeing the movie National Treasure.  Then I started reading, then there was a petition, three degrees, authored three books, Scottish Rite, York Rite . . . But it wasn't too many years ago when I had no interest in the topic of Freemasonry at all because it hadn't managed to hit my radar, and now, I can't imagine a life without it.

Which is why I love books like this.  The Intellectual Devotional provides a very easy way to learn something about an area you otherwise may never be exposed to.  And you can do that every day in just a few minutes--these short readings are a page each.  I found these several years ago, and I think there are about five of them now.  There are 365 short readings, one for each day of the week, a different subject each day, and if you read one each night before going to bed, it's remarkable how much you can pick up.  I think there are five of these collections now.

This isn't the only book of this ilk.  There's also the Bedside Baccallaureate series--I think there are two of those.  The title might be a bit of an over-reach, but it's full of short lessons on a variety of topics too.  But books aren't the only place you can can get a quick daily fix of learning.  Years ago I had a calendar that would offer up one interesting fact about science each day.  There are website that I enjoy like American History Fun Facts.  I love collections of useless information.  I have dozens of quote books (and I put some of my favorites together in my own collection called A Freemason Said That?)  

It's a big world out there--take a little time out from your day to day life and explore it.  You might just be surprised at what you find out there that interests you.  You might just find, like I did, something you don't even know exists yet that could change the course of your life forever.

~TEC

Todd E. Creason, 33° is the Founder of the Midnight Freemasons blog and is a regular contributor. He is the award winning author of several books and novels, including the Famous American Freemasons series. He is the author of the From Labor to Refreshment blog. He is the Worshipful Master of Homer Lodge No. 199 and a Past Master of Ogden Lodge No. 754, where is currently serves as Secretary. He is the Sovereign Master of the Eastern Illinois Council No. 356 Allied Masonic Degrees. He is a Fellow at the Missouri Lodge of Research. (FMLR) and a charter member of a new Illinois Royal Arch Chapter, Admiration Chapter U.D. You can contact him at: webmaster@toddcreason.org