We Can't Do It All
So, let's figure out some help
Since I took over as Worshipful Master a few months ago, my wife and I have been doing most all the cooking at Centralia Lodge. That’s OK, because we enjoy doing it, and we’ve been putting out some good quality meals.
The only trouble is, our work is rather seasonal. We have loads of free time most of the year, but work constantly for three or four months each year.
This month, January, is one of those months. We don’t have the time, or the energy to put out a good meal tonight.
But, the Lodge will still eat quite well this evening.
How?
Because instead of us cooking everything, we are having a Chili Contest.
Other Lodges around the Jurisdiction hold these from time to time, and they seem to be well liked, so when we realized that we couldn’t do a big meal this month, we decided to put on our Lodge’s first annual Chili Contest!
In this way, we can feed everyone well, everybody can have fun, and we don’t have to spend a day cooking. A really solid way to get it done, without doing it all.
Of course, I’ll still be bringing a pot of my own Chili, but it will be easy, because I don’t have to create an entire meal for 25 or 30 people.
My entry will be:
Cameron’s World Famous Man Meat Chili. All the Beef, none of the Beans.
Lots of meat, onions, tomatoes, peppers, salt, pepper, garlic, chili powder, tobasco and of course tapatio. I’m certain that I’ll take home first prize, even if I wasn’t the fellow counting the votes!
Another thing that has grown in popularity are esoteric conferences.
To my mind, my Lodge should host one. But, I don’t know that my Lodge is interested in doing all of the work that it would take to host a large esoteric conference.
We do though, have a building.
So, we are teaming up with a local esoteric organization. We are providing the building, they are doing the work of putting on the conference.
This way, we have something really great for area Masons, and they have something really great for their own people. We both get recognized, and we both get to provide something of value.
I think that sometimes when leading a Lodge we can get excited about doing lots of things, but then overwhelmed by the amount of work it might take.
By working in partnership within the Lodge, like tonight’s Chili Contest, or in partnership with other organizations, like our upcoming esoteric conference, we can make our plans come true, with a lot less work and energy than we might imagine.
And that is a very good thing.
If you’d like to join us for our Chili Contest, and sample some of Cameron’s World Famous Man Meat Chili, we’ll be gathering at Centralia Lodge No. 63 tonight at 6:30 PM.
If you’d like to come to our esoteric conference on March 21, tickets are available here:
We are really excited for these upcoming events. I really appreciate the concept of establishing community based programs and projects to help keep the Lodge connected with the community, as well as increasing the potential of meeting supporters and interested parties through collaborative effort, all without having to increase the burden of support on the Lodge.
I am really excited for the coming year and the events we plan to host with The Travelers A-Chord and The Ragnarok Foundation in the coming year thanks to the Lodge's generosity and support. You're spot on, when we have limited time or resources, the easiest way forward it to lend our Brethren, and our communities a helping hand. Making it easier for all of us to meet, achieve, and exceed our goals.
We look forward to seeing you tonight. Have a Blessed one, and safe Travels!