“Parachutes and minds have a great deal in common – they only work when they are open.” -- Anonymous

Dear Brethren:

When we became Masons, we did so with an open mind. We did not know what was ahead of us as we put our trust in our guide. As we think about our lives, we are lead by our guide – the Father of the Universe. We do not know were we will be going and we do not know what we will be doing, but we put our trust in our guide and press on.

Our lives take many twists and turns. Why do you do the things that you do? What made you say what you said? If only we had made a left turn instead of a right. Life is filled with many “would have,” “could have,” “should have” points. Wouldn’t it be great if you could know just what was going to happen! Imagine being able to always be right! How about always being able to say just the right thing at the right time! Or how about being able to go through life without ever making a mistake!

Let’s face it, none of us are perfect. We all have good days and bad days. Some days you win and some days you lose. Sometimes, even though you know what must be said, the words don’t come out just right. That’s Life -- plan and simple.

As we sit in lodge, we find that people make mistakes. If an officer says the wrong word or misses a line – there is no need to have “brothers” on the sidelines critiquing his work. Words strike hard and deep. Please allow him the courtesy of having one person help him. When it comes to criticizing, “let him who is without fault cast the first stone.”

We all need to remember that we must allow our lives to be what they are to be. We can make our lives better by making the best decisions when given options. We should always keep our minds open. Remember the one word that will help you in any situation is the word “THINK.”

Fraternally,

John Lacki, Jr.
Worshipful Master