Seeking your kind guidance & advise

[Ash_Jon-Viere]

Dear all,


I have a question that I’ve been pondering on for awhile now that I’d sincerely like to seek guidance for. I am a student currently, on my way to be a mason, awaiting my first degree.

I’m sincere on spending this life, and every other, on being of complete service to the betterment of mankind and to devote myself to this new purpose I’ve found in this journey of freemasonry.

However I am currently at a crossroads in choosing a path for further education. I would sincerely like to seek your opinion on what would be the best education / career choice where I can be of the most use and service to our mission.

I wish not to make this decision based on what I find interest in, but instead on how I can best dedicate my life to be of greatest use and purpose as a mason.



Sincerely,
Ash

 

[chrmc]

Do something you like, something you're good at, and something where there's a need in the future. Likelyhood is that where you'll eventually end, is far from where you thought. I don't think many of us are in the career we had counted on when we started college.

I would not necessarily seek to better the world as as career, though it is a noble cause. Unless of course this is where your passion is. If you become an honest, upright and succesfull man you will have plenty of opportunities to better your community and thereby the world.

 

[Matt L]

You would achieve your goal, by living your life by Masonic principles. Doesn't matter what your vocation is. Do what makes you happy. One of the best Masons I know is a janitor at a high school. The kids respect him, and know he's a Mason. We've had a few join the lodge because of him.

 

[dfreybur]

I wish not to make this decision based on what I find interest in, but instead on how I can best dedicate my life to be of greatest use and purpose as a mason.

This would be a mistake. Go with the course of study you have the most passion. That is the best way to find your life calling. Once in your life calling, give service through that occupation.

 

[CLewey44]

Ash, can you give some specfics on what you have on mind?

 

[hfmm97]

Ash do research on the long-term job prospects find something that is relatively stable and not likely to be exported before you commit to a course of study.


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[hfmm97]

I know of one brother that got BA degrees in psycholgy and sociology 10 years ago and he wanted to be a "professional Mason". He's got a stack of dues cards and is a member of all the Masonic organizations that I've heard of (his family is well to do-he drove a Mercedes as a student in uni) - last I heard he was a Uber driver anda barista at Starbucks


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[Warrior1256]

You would achieve your goal, by living your life by Masonic principles. Doesn't matter what your vocation is.

Exactly!

 

[hanzosbm]

Pretty much any course of study can be used to help others.
The job is where that's decided. Engineers can build schools or utilities in impovrished areas. Lawyers can help people find a voice. Doctors obviously help people. Businessmen can help run non-profits and charities.
You name it, there's a way to help. Study what you love and it will clear the way to use your skills in the way you see fit.

 

[Warrior1256]

Study what you love and it will clear the way to use your skills in the way you see fit.

Exactly.

 

[Ash_Jon-Viere]

Thank you so much ( @chrmc @Matt L @dfreybur @CLewey44 @hfmm97 @JamestheJust @hanzosbm @Warrior1256 ) for all your insightful advice and opinions, I truly appreciate your keenness and your willingness to help.

Your responses have helped me shape a better understanding. I’m sorry for the delay in my reply, I have been giving this good thought over the past few weeks.

@CLewey44, thank you for asking. I meant actually in the sense to seek opinion of what perhaps could be a career choice that will allow me to best contribute as a mason. Just so I can have insights on how I can be of most use. As unfortunately I have no specific interest in one particular trait, and my interest lies in being of as much altruistic purpose as I possibly can in this life. Like for example, taking up politics may allow me to contribute more by being in a position where I can impact change. Majoring in things like history, communication, astrology, egyptology etc etc, may perhaps give me a career where I am able to have a better understanding to contribute more in a research lodge someday and allow me to live closer to the craft perhaps. Being a business owner may allow me to have more free time on my hands where I can devote more of myself to volunteering in my lodge. Being a writer may allow me to raise more awareness and interest about our craft as dan brown did. I understand that one may be the best mason he can be by being himself and abiding by his teachings and practicing his craft wholeheartedly. But what about those who wish to do more than their best.

Again I thank you so much for your responses. I have never written on any forum before and am pleasantly overwhelmed at the altruism that all of y’all have shown me by taking the time to help me understand this better. Cheers.

 

[hfmm97]

Thank you so much ( @chrmc @Matt L @dfreybur @CLewey44 @hfmm97 @JamestheJust @hanzosbm @Warrior1256 ) for all your insightful advice and opinions, I truly appreciate your keenness and your willingness to help.

Your responses have helped me shape a better understanding. I’m sorry for the delay in my reply, I have been giving this good thought over the past few weeks.

@CLewey44, thank you for asking. I meant actually in the sense to seek opinion of what perhaps could be a career choice that will allow me to best contribute as a mason. Just so I can have insights on how I can be of most use. As unfortunately I have no specific interest in one particular trait, and my interest lies in being of as much altruistic purpose as I possibly can in this life. Like for example, taking up politics may allow me to contribute more by being in a position where I can impact change. Majoring in things like history, communication, astrology, egyptology etc etc, may perhaps give me a career where I am able to have a better understanding to contribute more in a research lodge someday and allow me to live closer to the craft perhaps. Being a business owner may allow me to have more free time on my hands where I can devote more of myself to volunteering in my lodge. Being a writer may allow me to raise more awareness and interest about our craft as dan brown did. I understand that one may be the best mason he can be by being himself and abiding by his teachings and practicing his craft wholeheartedly. But what about those who wish to do more than their best.

Again I thank you so much for your responses. I have never written on any forum before and am pleasantly overwhelmed at the altruism that all of y’all have shown me by taking the time to help me understand this better. Cheers.

Ash Jon-Viere:

One of my uni degrees is in psychology: my focus was on industrial/organization where we focused on human behavior in the workplace.

We discussed a concept that I wished that I had learned early on: a REALISTIC JOB PROFILE.

This means getting in touch with someone already working in the job that you are interested in and finding out the good and bad parts of the job on a day to day basis. For instance, say construction, do you like to travel? can you work long hours (60+/week)? are you in reasonably good physical shape?

Getting experience:

Consider an internship or summer job-you will find out really quickly if this is something that you want to do.

While your enthusiasm for the Craft is admirable, one of the Texas Grand Masters I really think has done MUCH for the Craft worked as a petroleum engineer (even as an academic PhD and professor) which is a job you don't mention above.

In terms of being a business owner: trust me, you will have LITTLE TO NO FREE TIME while you are setting up your business (perhaps later more flexible schedule). Go talk to a business owner!

Good luck and best regards from Texas




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