Again I lead off with "much going on" or some version of "so much to do, so little time", but this post is hopefully more informative than most. First up, as of today (June 12) I have TWO books at the publisher (Perfect Ashlar Publishing), waiting their turn in line for printing and release. The first is "In and About the Lodge" which I hope will be released in lat June. It is a collection of several of my articles regarding the role of "the lodge" in our masonic system. The center piece article in fact is called "A System Called Masonry" and the other articles relate or amplify the main idea in some way.
The second book that is hot off the keyboard and out the door today to the publisher is "Noah's Quest - Volume III: Faithful Craftsman" and I am hoping for an early July release on the third book in my fictional series about Noah Lewis and his quest for the meaning of a well-lived masonic life. Some have asked or have intimated that they believe there is something going on, maybe a sub-plot of some sort going on in the background; let me just say they probably aren't wrong!
I invite everyone to visit my "Noah's Quest" page on my website for updates, FAQ's, and an introduction to the cast - oh, and you can also purchase the first two books in the series if you so desire. Simply click on the link or the picture of the book above to visit the page!
And now, a turn to the sublime... so to speak.
I have often remarked on my "tempo" or "pace" and lamented that my time seems to be fully consumed at nearly all times. As of this month, I will finally begin reclaiming my time. It is time to discuss some coming changes.
I do not remember a time in my life where I didn't have some sort of job or wasn't in some type of position where I was receiving pay for helping out in a handy-man position. The first paper route came along when I was about 13, and then when I was 14 I joined a couple friends in taking on freelance painting and handy-man duties around our apartment development. I have been "working" officially since I turned 16 and became eligible in my home state to qualify for a Work Permit and hold a "real job". My time spent in my last two years of high school was almost equally divided between school and the time I spent working 30+ hours a week in my job hustling pizzas, working the food line, doing the dishes and eventually serving as a manager at a local pizza joint where it all began. School received my first eight hours each day, five days out of every week, and then the pizza joint got an additional eight to nine hours of almost every day during the week plus 16 to 20 of my hours on weekends.
Once I graduated in 1975 - officially the middle of the era of the best music ever produced by rock bands (some of which are still touring today) - I bounced between a few jobs - another pizza restaurant, construction, and finally back to the pizza joint that started it all. After three years of "follow the bouncing pizza dough" in jobs where I spent 10 - 12 hours a day, six days a week it finally dawned on me that there must be more out there somewhere waiting for me.
In 1977, just after my 20th birthday, I investigated the U.S. Navy as an option. I had always planned for an eventual career in the Navy and following in my father's footsteps - militarily and masonically. Unfortunately (or not), I never really understood what the Navy recruiter was trying to explain to me. On my last visit with the incredibly confusing Petty Officer, I thanked him and departed only to be confronted by an enlisted Air Force NCO in a crisp blue uniform who surprisingly spoke to me in English. "Why don't you give me a few minutes to show you some information about the Air Force?" he asked and the rest, as they say, is history. Three months later I signed my Delayed Entry Enlistment contract and went home to begin getting things in order for a 1978 reporting date for basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio.
By "getting things in order" I really mean I worked my regular 10 - 12 hours, six days a week up until about two weeks before I left Maryland for Texas. Once I arrived at Lackland to begin what I expected to be a single, 4-year enlistment, I got to work learning what it took to become a productive airman in the United States Air Force.
Twenty years and three weeks later, I finally wrapped up that commitment to the Air Force back where it started in San Antonio, Texas. The Air Force indeed provided me training and experience that enabled my second career that would run for a subsequent 23 years here in San Antonio. It was during the transition between my Air Force career and my follow-on career in contracting that I petitioned Somerset Lodge #1205 in Somerset, Texas for the degrees in Masonry. I was now laying the groundwork for a full-time career as a DoD contractor and a masonic journey to an unknown destination, both of which started at roughly the same time and both of which together would come to consume nearly all of my waking hours.
And now, here we are, 24 years after I completed an entire military career, began and completed second professional career, and also began my masonic journey. During those interceding 24 years of my second career, I worked for five different DoD contracting companies, racked up close to ten thousand frequent flyer miles, and served twice as Task Lead on significant DoD contracts, all while joining three traditional masonic lodges, two affinity lodges, two York Rite bodies, two Commanderies, three invitational bodies, and at least two masonic "social" bodies or clubs. In that time I have presided twice in lodge, once each over the two York Rite bodies, and at also least two of the invitational bodies while further serving as District Deputy, District Education Officer, and helping with our local Masters, Wardens, and Secretary's Association.
And now, after retiring in 2022 from a second full-time career with the government, I've also written five books with at least two more in the works, and I've developed and presented at least ten educational presentations, written at least 15 articles on various masonic topics, and created and published my website "A Mason's Journey" where I host my blog, my articles, my presentations, and a library of resources for my fellow travelers.
My brothers, it is true that I am not as old as many of my brothers and mentors that I look up to and seek out for ideas, opinions, and guidance, but the fact is - and I am finally coming to grips with this - I am moving to a new phase in my life and time now forces me to re-prioritize my 24-inch gage. I can finally admit that I have completed and passed completely through my youth and my manhood and now stand at the precipice of my old age as masons define and understand it and this realization forces me to confront the passage of time head on.
I am now prepared to say that it is time to slow down and to make some major decisions that I've delayed for years. I have shared with some close brothers that I am very seriously considering a return to my home in Maryland and they have all seemed both surprised and supportive. I will share now what I said to them during those discussions because it truly gets to the heart of the matter - my brethren, when I joined the Air Force in 1978, it was never my intention to leave home forever. I was always (in my mind) eventually going to return home where I still have family and time passes unceasingly. I have nephews that I barely know - one of which has petitioned a lodge for the degrees - and there are other family members that have encouraged me to come home.
I am not saying that I have made a final decision to move back home, but I am saying that I need time to think this through and make my final decision on whether I will make that final, return trip home or not. I need some time and space to explore my options and come to a reasonable conclusion as to what the next phase of my life will look like and where it will best play out. With this in mind, I will share my current thoughts and plans for my journey - masonic and otherwise.
We are coming into a busy season with elections and installations, plus some L.I.F.E. certifications (required in Texas for JW, SW, and WM) so new officers can be installed. My plan is to start lifting my foot off the gas pedal in mid-to late June and gradually slow my lodge schedules while I ramp up my personal pursuits. It is (beyond) time to make these decisions about where I will eventually end up and and if there are perhaps some places here in Texas that might also serve me as "retirement ready" and desirable places to land. As I devote more time to these matters, I will likewise decrease time spent on my lodge activities. I am one of the rare few masons in the world that enjoy Stated Meetings, so I will likely continue making most of my Stated Meetings, but I will evaluate other activities as they pop up and make decisions on a case by case basis.
I have writing to do, articles to research and prepare, and about 247 masonic books waiting on my bookshelves to be read. It is time. Some of these thoughts may sound familiar, especially if you've read my fiction series "Noah's Quest". There is in fact quite a bit of "me" woven throughout the story line of Noah and his many trials and ruminations. If anything, much of my current thinking emerged as I created and gave life (so to speak) to Noah and you may easily see some of my story intertwined with the lives of Noah Lewis and Gary Yeager. Let's just say that Noah's Quest became something of a cathartic endeavor and has clarified much in my mind in the way of what the next stage of my life will look like.
So where do I go from here? What does all this rambling and mumbling add up to? I will be slowing down some, gradually at first and eventually more noticeably. I may drop out from some activities and just slow down a bit in others. It's been quite a ride - not just the 25 years of my masonic journey so far, but the 50+ years of almost non-stop work chasing some goal that I don't even remember anymore. Ups, downs, many many relocation's, many new tasks and qualifications. People. Places. Challenges. Adventures. And now, on to my next decision which boils down to "now what"?
Now it's finally time to read my unread library, fix some things on the house that have been neglected, write the next masonic fiction series (yes, there is one in the planning stage), and, above all else, it's time to figure out where I will finally land as I make the transition to my retirement or, as we say in masonry, from my years of manhood to the years of my old age.
I cherish each and every person that has crossed my path during my 65+ years because I have learned something from each of you. I thank you for traveling with me for at least a part of the journey and for sharing a part of your own with me - I hope I have added something, perhaps a laugh, maybe some knowledge, or even a shoulder when you needed it. You will all be with me as I finish the trip across the plain of time, either with me, behind me pushing me along, or safely tucked in my memory.
This is what has been on my mind for several months and will continue to occupy my thoughts for days, weeks, and months to come; I just felt it was time to share it so that if I meet you somewhere, someday and inform you that "I'm moving back to the East Coast" next week, it won't come as an inexplicable surprise or shock. Consider this my notice to all that change is in the offing and the scythe and hourglass will soon force me to make some very difficult decisions.
Thank you for this moment of your time - I do appreciate it! Travel on my brothers, and travel with purpose!
Travel on Worthy Brothers!
BroBill
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