The perpetual FellowCraft

Good morning my brothers. 
What does it mean to truly be, a Master of our craft? 

Let’s explore this. 
     As Freemasons, we are given charge to be in a perpetual motion towards bettering ourselves, and as a result, bettering the world around us. 

     What does it truly mean to be a master of our craft? I think the answer to that is self explanatory- we simply can’t. We are now, and until our passing, we will remain just short of perfection. 

     As we are human, making our way through life, and our beloved craft, we can often be distracted by our own interpretation of the tenants of our craft,  by overlooking what those lessons are meant to explain. Some lodges have issues with personal problems, political problems, and membership attendance issues as well. If we look deep within ourselves, and look deep within the lessons of our craft, we can easily see what’s hidden in plain sight. A Master Mason isn’t so, until his raising. Which requires a downfall first. 

     This downfall is given at the hands of those not yet to that point of being raised up themselves and ascending to the level of master Mason. This, in and of itself, alludes to our own personal faults in life. Our “lower” existence and “lower” selves, being filled with faults and impurities of life, and life’s experiences. 

     Life’s experiences can often shape how we interpret and apply various subjects. Freemasonry is no different. Ascension and life can not be fully realized simultaneously. If you look at every philosophical thought and teaching on ascension, we can find this lesson repeatedly. From Buddha to Christ, ascension to perfection simply isn’t possible while living. We must pass on to the great lodge above, that lodge not made with human hands, to fully realize what it means to be in the midst of perfection and true circumspection. 

     This lesson, and the effects of overlooking this lesson, can be seen everywhere in life. From brothers who “know all” to people who look down their noses at others. We all know what it feels like to be judged. In order to be judged, a control for comparison must exist. And if an imperfect control of comparison is used, to judge the quality (or lack thereof) of another’s imperfections, how perfect could perfection truly be? 

     Not very. In truth, perfection can’t even be understood or even witnessed first hand. So when we judge others based on our own perspective of perfection or expectations of such, we often set ourselves up for disappointment and division based on the same. The truth is, no ashlar is truly perfect. Not until we ascend to the grand lodge above, passing through the great light that washes us of our remaining imperfections. 

     Until then, we remain in a perpetual state of a FellowCraft. Attempting to reach the true state of Master Mason, prematurely, will undoubtedly prove to be futile to our journey.
Have a great day. And as always, feel free to share. 
©Bro. Dave Bacon MPS