Everyday Holiday Lodge Meetings

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

Bro. Randy Sanders

I recently opened a calendar application and began overlaying multiple holiday calendars from different religions and nations.  It’s amazing how many different holidays we have daily across this terrestrial sphere.  Why am I missing out on all these parties?  We as Masons should embrace these festive occasions and embrace social intercourse as much as possible.  The grumpy and jaded need not apply here.

Thanksgiving and Christmas in the United States always bring to me feelings of warmth, family, and joy.  I try to celebrate by remembering what little time we have on this planet, and I encourage you to do the same.  Every holiday brings a set of emotions and feelings to different people, so I propose we consider every holiday special to you no matter which you celebrate.  In some way or form, that holiday can be special to you, and I challenge you to celebrate every holiday.  Yes, daily.  Take time during each holiday to ask yourself: Why is this day a holiday, to which nation or group, to which religion?  For what am I grateful today?  Even if we don’t practice that particular religion or belong to that particular ethnic group, we have an opportunity to look at some event that marked a point in time where some of us came together.  

Let us consider any holiday from another group that we may not celebrate ourselves, then let’s look at the accomplishment of that holiday as a means to reflect upon the outcomes.  Many countries mark certain battle victories, and certain locations or countries mark various founders’ days as historical moments.  Remember your lessons in polarity and balance, as some groups may not agree it was such a great day if they lost the battle or were displaced or similar.  The more important lesson is we moved on.  We can all celebrate the fact there’s no more bloodshed from that battle or underlying struggle to that particular event.  Carrying a grudge from generation to generation because someone’s great-great-great-grandfather was treated unfairly only carries a poison to the next generation that clouds the mind with emotion and prevents them from living in the present.  Here’s a hint at life:  That poison is a roughness to your ashlar.

Our lesson continues to be focusing on living in the present.  Celebrate today’s holiday with the family, friends, and brothers we still have with us, and keep a special memory for those who have passed before.  We may not have a future opportunity to gather and celebrate, so take advantage of this time together with gratitude and grace.  Take advantage of this opportunity for brotherly fellowship.  Our lodges should be full of smiling faces, of brothers and their families gathering in fellowship, and of coming together as we have done for centuries.  

Let us also keep in mind our own thoughts and deeds for every holiday.  Let us reflect upon the good deeds we’ve accomplished while looking forward to the future.  Reflect upon lessons learned and how that might reset our own trestle boards toward our own future.  As we pause to enjoy family and reconnect where possible with those not living nearby.  Let us reconsider our charitable giving so that we continue to help others not as fortunate as us.  After all, every day is a holiday to explore, celebrate, and share with others in the darkness or in the Light.

~RS

Randy and his wife Elyana live near St. Louis, Missouri, USA. Randy earned a bachelor's Degree in Chemistry with an emphasis in Biochemistry, and he works in Telecom IT management. He volunteers as a professional and personal mentor, NRA certified Chief Range Safety Officer, and enjoys competitive tactical pistol, rifle, and shotgun. He has 30-plus years of teaching Wing Chun Kung Fu, Chi Kung, and healing arts. Randy served as a Logistics Section Chief on two different United States federal Disaster Medical Assistance Teams over a 12-year span. Randy is a 32nd-degree KCCH and Knight Templar. His Masonic bio includes past Lodge Education Officer for two symbolic lodges, Founder of the Wentzville Lodge Book Club, member of the Grand Lodge of Missouri Education Committee, Sovereign Master of the E. F. Coonrod AMD Council No. 493, Co-Librarian of the Scottish Rite Valley of St. Louis, Clerk for the Academy of Reflection through the Valley of Guthrie, and a Facilitator for the Masonic Legacy Society. Randy is a founding administrator for Refracted Light, a full contributor to Midnight Freemasons, and an international presenter on esoteric topics. Randy hosts an open ongoing weekly Masonic virtual Happy Hour on Friday evenings. Randy is an accomplished home chef, a certified barbecue judge, raises Great Pyrenees dogs, and enjoys travel and philosophy.

Ramadan

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

Bro. Erik Marks

For many years now I think: “This year I will study and observe Ramadan.” Then, I don’t. But I do learn a little more and my respect increases. I have celebrated holidays of the religions of my ancestors, Pesach (Passover) and Lent, along with others, and keep seeking to understand the ways billions of people around the world live their devotion. One year, Ramadan was explained to me as the most important Islamic holidays asking of its observant members to fast and to better understand what it means to go without—like so many do every day. It was said to me to be a celebration of charity, hope, and reaching out to humanity. Sounds familiar.

Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam, which are: Declaration of faith, Prayer five times per day, Fasting during Ramadan, Tithing or alms-giving, (or service if one doesn’t have a lot of money), and if possible, once a ones lifetime making the Hajj:Pilgrimage to Mecca. As I understand, Ramadan begins at the sight of the crescent following the new moon. Being a lunar calendar, the start of Ramadan changes by about eleven days every year. If the moon is obscured due to clouds, there is a prescribed waiting period and then Ramadan begins regardless of sight of the moon and continues for about 29-30 days. One must fast from sun up to sundown. In most countries that is about sixteen hours. In Senegal, the fasting time is capped at fourteen. In some parts of the world, where the days are the longest, a fatwa(ruling on Islamic law) is issued to shorten the length of fasting so the faithful may observe dutifully and in a humane way. Towards the end of Ramadan, usually in the last ten days though no date is specified, is Lailat al-Qadr, which could be translated as “Night of the decree” or “Night of Power,” when the Word of God was said to be revealed to the Prophet Muhammed (Peace be upon Him) in 610 CE. It is a time when one asks for forgiveness, mercy, and prayers for salvation. If one lives in a predominantly Muslim country—there is significant familial and cultural support. If one lives in an area where there is little support outside the household and not in the community, I imagine this practice is much more difficult.

So why write about Ramadan in a Masonic forum? Some of our Brother’s and their families are Muslim, as well as Prince Hall Masons, both stateside and abroad. Muslims make up just over 1% of Americans at about 3.5 million. Globally Muslims make up a quarter of the world population and is currently the fastest growing religion. As Masons, we honor religion and divinity as a central part of our work. In a time of Islamophobia, it seems important to me to understand as much as possible about this important holiday. Like the practices of my ancestors, religious holidays ask us to alter our daily lives in the service of something greater than ourselves. Within this sacred space, we have the opportunity to experience our usual mindset in a less commonly held context—where spirit and divinity are placed at the center of our thoughts. Whether during Ramadan or not, what would it mean to your religious or spiritual practice to observe obligatory prayer five times per day? How would it change the way we approach life? The holiday asks Muslims to give up all food and drink every day to know what it feels like and know viscerally, hunger and thirst. It could be usefully humbling and instructive to consider, even if not a practitioner. As with giving up something for Lent, considering the ideals of Islam and Ramadan could enrich one’s own practices and lead to greater gratitude for the abundance the vast majority of us enjoy daily, often without notice.

~EM

Brother Erik Marks is a clinical social worker whose usual vocation has been in the field of human services in a wide range of settings since 1990. He was raised in 2017 by his biologically younger Brother and then Worshipful Master in Alpha Lodge in Framingham, MA. You may contact brother Marks by email: erik@StrongGrip.org