Game Nights
And the Lodge?
A bunch of thoughts came together for me today.
First I read this fun essay:
Check it out, it’s good reading. Reminds me of both my grandparent’s basement, and Melinda’s grandparent’s basement. Maybe it’s a grandparents thing!
Then I remembered, many years ago my Lodge used to hold the occasional game night. Usually these were family events in the Lodge’s dining room, and as I recall they were fun, and fairly popular.
But they weren’t always designed to be family friendly events. I remember on one occasion Brothers sitting at a table playing Cards Against Humanity until the sun rose in the east. On that occasion, it was Masons only.
Then I recalled that a Lodge just to the north of mine has been hosting regularly scheduled family game nights for quite some time now. I’ve not been able to attend, so can’t know for certain, but must assume that they are fairly popular as they keep being a part of the Lodge’s regular schedule.
Lastly I recalled that a young Mason in my Lodge, young in age and young in Masonry, with young children and a wife mentioned not long ago that he and his family had attended one of these game nights at our neighboring Lodge. And that they had a really great time.
All of this brings to my mind, a light question for today:
Should our Lodges consider hosting family game nights? Not fancy electronic games, old school all the way.
Related to that, maybe I should also ask, should our Lodges consider hosting game nights for men and Masons alone?
But then, perhaps a much less light question:
If old school games are undergoing a ‘golden age’ of popularity, is that because people are feeling a strong need to disconnect from the digital, if only for a few hours? And if so, is that a selling point for Freemasonry that we should emphasize? If yes, how?
Let’s discuss it.
In related news, this is, undoubtedly, the greatest game ever for large groups of diverse ages:
So says me, anyway, and since I’m the one who wrote down the rules, I decided that I get to decide! 🤠
The Valley of Everett started this back up in the spring. Everyone that meets there is invited, the Valley, Blue Lodges, OES and Amaranth have all participated to some degree. We were trying for 1 night a month
Steadfast is holding family game nights, and it works. While doing things just for the brothers is good too, and important, game nights are a good way to bring in the family, and if the family isn't involved, I believe the sort of men we want to have, and want to be, will be less involved.