My Freemasonry | Freemason Information and Discussion Forum
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While we all aspire to become perfect ashlars, we, being human, will always fall short. We all have our flaws. One of the things we, as Masons, are charged with is to help each other overcome said flaws as best we can.
I believe I am a pretty good mason. I currently hate delta airlines. 9th time I have been delayed by delta for over 24 hours in the last 10 years. Sitting in a nasty hotel in Atlanta again due to mechanical delays. So I'm not perfect. I'm working with the common gavel chipping it off bit by bit, but this hotel they put me up in is nasty.
Hate is a feeling, and feelings belong to men. You don't need to be a saint to be a mason. But you have to hate the hate, to be a mason, so to speak. We strive to become a better man, that is all that is expected from us.
Yes, he can. We are here to make ourselves better and to assist make others better by being a guide or someone follow. Just because he has a bit of hate in him, doesn't mean that he will have that hate anymore when he leaves the lodge.
Would it be fair to say that human nature being what it is furnishes that emotion whether we like it or not and as long as we are willing check it at the door of the lodge while we learn to subdue our passions, that is what is expected?
I think so, providing he uses that emotion to grow, learn, and then transform that emotion into something good. I personally think the allegory of the checkered pavement applies here in addition to good and evil.
Ok I hate them a little less. Still getting to Texas 24 hours late and have to connect through Atlanta and Detroit, but at least they upgraded my party of 4 to first class from Detroit to Austin. I guess masonry teaches us that we should begin to forgive and good things will happen? Maybe if I totally forgive they will give my money back?
Hate is just one of the emotions we experience as human beings and can be viewed as a passionate feeling we may hold toward an individual, group of individuals, or something else. We are learning how to be better men and constantly finding ways in which to improve ourselves. Learning to subdue the hate is just one of many passions we must subdue in order to become better
I think it depends on how you define hate and what you do to overcome that hate...I don't hate people, but I may of a temporary strong dislike for one or two every once in a while if I'm cut off on IH35 during rush hour. And after counting to 10 I'll forgive 'em, which usually occurs about the time they get cut off by someone else, and I realize I shouldn't have been mad in the first place and chastise myself for letting my emotions run amok.
But...I do hate Cottage Cheese. I hate it will all my heart and soul and I'm not going to do anything to correct that hatred...does that count?
Brother I can't even look at it...my mom made me try it when I was 8...I put a big spoonful in my mouth and my stomach reached up, closed my throat and said "That nasty stuff isn't coming down here....no way!"
I'm right there with you Mike. My mother had me try it when I was younger, and then later in life my ole lady had me try it to prove that I didn't like it...lol I had the normal "Goldschlager" response........lol