Shining the Masonic Light Charity Forevermore
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couple of years ago a young began doing some research. right before me, was the ineffable result of mother came into the bank where She found a ‘clown’, in Grand our charity. It can’t be put into words. It I worked. She was talking to a coJunction. She filled out an application, came out of my eyes: I was blinking back worker at a desk in the lobby, and from and submitted it. The hope had faded, she tears, too. my office I couldn’t help but overhear their said. It would never work. At least try, Several days later she returned to the conversation. She was blinking back tears, tough. At least try…. bank. She brought her son with her, the and her entire attitude was like someone The tears began to fall. Right there at cast still fresh on his left arm. She asked who had witnessed a miracle. The subject the desk in the lobby of the bank. Well, me if I was a Mason – I seemed to know a of their conversation hit me, and I came to the next evening, she said, she received little bit about these folks, she said, and she the door and stood nearby. a call. The next evening! And not from was wondering if I could help her. She had She was explaining that her young son some call-center, a secretary, or some lost the contact name from the ‘clown’ she had had some strange brittle bone disorder other distanced professional charged with had first got in touch with. She gave me since birth. That he a name (not exactly was always breaking the right name). She ven then, days later in the bank’s lobby, she couldn’t his arms, only his said she just wanted arms, but even to thank him. She believe it. Who were these people? ‘The Shrine, it’s when crawling as a said it again. And baby several times something to do with the Masons,’ she said, blinking back those again. I said that I he had broken his same tears – but new tears, tears of happiness, relief and hope. was a Mason, that wrists. The young I didn’t know him, Tears she probably hadn’t cried in years.” family had spent but I bet I could find years seeking a someone who did. diagnosis, despite That evening I inadequate insurance. Break after break. redlining or peeking through cracks in called her with the contact of the Brother Nothing. More breaks. No one could tell paper. But from a surgeon, at one of the in Grand Junction. The Brother who had them what was wrong. And recently he best hospitals in the world. He told her brought so much light into this darkened had broken his arm again. The medical they had accepted her son, and that they corner of the world. She thanked me too bills were crippling. I could still see their would even pay to fly him out to Salt Lake much – I had done nothing – but my ghost on her heart, like the place where a City. No charge, no charge to the family. heart was overwhelmed. There was light lover used to lay. She was flabbergasted. Even then, in Norwood, Colorado! They were at their wits’ end, she said. days later in the bank’s lobby, she couldn’t This, then, is the tangible result All paths had led to the same dead end. believe it. Who were these people? She of Masonry in the world. Where you And now they were exhausted, financially, couldn’t find much information on them, least expect it, it’s there. In a small rural emotionally; heart-broken horror. She was she didn’t know anything about them. community far from anywhere, in a place about to give up. They were all about to “The Shrine, it’s something to do with where hope had ceased to shine, for a family give up. Resign their son to that place of the Masons,” she said, blinking back nearly resigned to suffering and misery, a desperate love where all parents go when those same tears – but new tears, tears new light blazed. It dazzled me, blinded they find themselves helpless. of happiness, relief, and hope. Tears she me, and I have never seen the world quite But then it happened. probably hadn’t cried in years. the same again. Her mother, she said, had mentioned We discussed the Masonic fraternity offhand one evening by phone after the a little, I dispelled a few myths, nothing recent break, “why don’t you try to find serious. She wanted to know who had a clown?” A clown? Yes, the guys who helped her. I was glad to oblige. used to drive around in those little cars. It was just the beginning. A long They have some sort of children’s hospital, road they had to tread. But they weren’t maybe they could help? She wasn’t alone, there were people manning the way, hopeful, and she expressed this with that directing her on. It would be okay. It same desperation upwelling in her heart. would be better. But she had no other options. So she got At that moment, as I looked into on the Internet, she said, fueled with that those eyes which shone like lamps, I have sense of purpose that kindles hope in the never been prouder to be a Mason. Here, cavity of suffering. If only for a time. She
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Rocky Mountain Mason