Annual Grand Communication Time

Many of us are heading out to Waco, Texas next week for the Annual Grand Communication of the Grand Lodge of Texas. It is the annual call to business that is a complex mix of formal business, recognition of our brothers and lodge accomplishments, social interaction, and serious administration of our masonic obligation to manage our fraternity and look out for the best interest(s) of our lodges and brethren.

I always enjoy the annual gathering and make a point of traveling up the morning of the day before the business session starts so I can meeting with good brothers and friends and swap "war stories". I feel like I have mastered that complex mix of missions and objectives well enough that the social interactions almost obscure the fact we are there to do the serious labors of the craft in Texas. I think this is likely true of most of the "frequent flyers" who travel ever year or almost every year on the sacred pilgrimage to Waco.

But we do have a solemn duty to perform as we conduct the necessary business of the Grand Lodge because it is ultimately up to US, the colloquially named "Grand West" to set the direction of masonry in Texas and elect the brothers we believe will take us there.

I have been making the trek regularly for about 10 years, give or take a year here or there where I was unable to attend and I find myself pondering my future trips. Will this be my last drive to Waco? Or maybe next year I will attend Grand Chapter/Grand Council instead of the Grand Lodge Annual Communication. I don't know. Much of 2022 is still obscured to me and many things are possible - some of which could affect or even change my masonic journey in drastic and lasting ways.

I have much to ponder, many decisions to make, and sense to make of the things coming my way in this new year. I will admit it has been well over 40 years since I've started a new year and had no idea where I would be and what I might be doing at the end of it; the reality

is both frightening and exciting. It's time to update my Masonic Bucket List (have you read my paper on the masonic bucket list? I highly recommend it) because for the first time in many years all of my boxes so far are checked, even the new ones that popped up unexpectedly. So what's next? Don't know. Where is my journey heading? Not sure. But a clean, empty slate and an open mind is a convenient starting point for mapping out a new, uncharted leg of a journey!

My brothers, as we enter 2022, the sky is the limit and the future is ours to create as we will. Let us pledge to each other to make it count so that when we finish this trip around the sun, we can reflect on all of the excellent experiences and accomplishments we will have in '22 and thank the Supreme GAOTU for all of the brothers that joined us along the way!

Good luck and let's be safe out there my brothers! May the blessings of heaven rest upon us and all regular masons!

S&F

Bro. Bill