Fix The Darn Thing

Don't whine about it

When I first became a Mason, a number of guys all gave me the same advice. An old saying:

“You get out of it what you put into it.”

To be honest, in those early days, it didn’t really make much sense. I wondered, what exactly should I be putting into it?

But, with time, I learned.

Photo by Erik Mclean on Unsplash

One recent evening, Melinda got a call on the phone. I heard her side of the conversation. Her caller had called to complain. To complain about something that one of our smaller Masonic organizations was doing.

Not too long before that she got a call complaining about something a Lodge had been doing.

I presume that she gets these calls from time to time because the caller thinks that maybe they will convince her that something needs to be done, and that maybe she can convince me. That I in turn can convince someone who can actually make a change.

It doesn’t work that way of course.

I also presume that she gets these calls because the caller thinks that she will listen to them, while I don’t have much patience for complaints.

And that’s true.

I don’t tolerate much complaining about a Lodge.

Why?

Because of that old saying I was told so many times when I was a new Mason:

You get out of it what you put into it.

I wasn’t sure what those men meant by that at the time, but I’ve certainly learned it in the years since.

If you don’t like something your Lodge does, well, become a Master Mason. Learn the Work and pitch in to earn the respect of your Brothers. Then change it.

It is always in our power to change things. To make things better.

Don’t like the meals a Lodge provides? Well, then cook something better.

Missing education in a Lodge? Well, then write up an educational piece you would enjoy, then present it when the Master opens up the floor.

Communication a problem in a Lodge? Fire up an email newsletter or trestleboard.

The Lodge lacks organization? Take the job as Master, or Treasurer, or Secretary.

Degrees aren’t great? Organize practices, at the Lodge or in your home.

The West Gate isn’t properly guarded? Volunteer for Investigation Committees; take the black cube seriously.

All of us, as Masons, if we don’t like our Lodge, well, then it is our duty to change our Lodge.

And the thing is, no one at all will stop us.

No one will tell us that we can’t help. That we can’t jump in to improve things. That we can’t offer a better vision.

Indeed, if we jump in to make things better, we’ll find that we have the Lodge in our corner, willing to help as they are able, cheering on our success. It is just up to us to make the first move.

It might not be quite as fun as complaining, but it is radically more effective.