The Winding Stairs Episode 5 Where is your Courage? Not everything in life comes easy to us. There are many things that are difficult and sometimes downright intimidating. When we face these things which intimidate us, our default reaction might be to avoid them and engage in other things. Although this might be a natural reaction or an instinctual response, it does not always serve its intended purpose. If we think about human evolution, we can understand that the spirit of self-preservation would have moved primitive humans to avoid overly dangerous or challenging situations. However, in today's world we retain that instinctive inclination to find the path of least resistance, even when that path would lead away from reaching our dreams and achieving those things we desire the most. What can we do to fight this urge to "survive"?  and instead choose that path that will help us Live and thrive, not just survive? The secret is in finding courage. Courage to live a life that fulfills us and allows us to experience our dreams. This does not mean that we will be fearless; for fear is a natural reaction to uncertainty and danger. What being courageous means, is to decide to take action, not without fear, but in spite of it. Where is your Courage? The 5 Places to look for Courage As we go through life, we are bound to encounter situations, which can be difficult and discouraging. This fact is inevitable, but there are several things we can do to make sure we are encouraged and continue moving forward. Look Behind: Retrospection We often forget about past victories; Especially when we are facing a challenge. This is the time when we can draw much needed courage from remembering those past successes. Bringing these moments to the present is sure to re-energize us and remind us that we have already achieved great things. By looking behind at those past triumphs, we create a momentum, which can carry us further than we think possible. If your job requires sales or persuation, you will agree with the notion that a second sale is easier than the first. Sales coaches often advise sales people to capitalize on the momentum created by that initial sale. That momentum will increase the confidence in the sales person and help him create subsequent sales. Similarly, when we look back at previous moments of success, our confidence increases and motivate us to push through the obstacles and achieve our desired goal. There is a biblical example of this concept in action. When a young David was considering standing against the [give brief background about philisteins threatening the israelites] giant, he reached back in to the moments he had defended his flocks from the attacks of a Lion. This gave him the courage necessary to confront an enemy, who had been undefeated and presented an unprecedented threat to the Israelite. Look Inside: Introspection Introspection is crucial in the development of confidence and the increase of courage. When we analyze ourselves and try to identify those thoughts, which may be holding us back, then we can correct them and gain confidence. We first have to be aware the things within us, which might be discouraging us to pursue those things we want to do. Understanding the root of our fears allows us to find specific solutions to those fears, increasing our chances of executing those plans, which we on which we have been procrastinating. Is it fear of failure? Are we trying to avoid embarassment? Are we too worried about what other people might think? These are all good questions in the search for those reasons within us, which might be holding us down.  With the same intensity, we should look inside ourselves for those qualities that will become handy if we embarq on our desired journey. If we familiarise ourselves with those qualities, which give us a good chance at being successful in our endeavour, then we will have a ready arsenal at our disposal to combat or counterbalance thos...

The Winding Stairs Episode 4:  Veiled in Allegory Freemasonry is described elegantly as a Science of Morality, Veiled in Allegory and Illustrated by Symbols. If there is nothing sinister in a science of morality, then why should it be veiled? On this episode we explore the reasons behind the allegorical teaching method and how well it works with the human mind. We introduce two new segments to our program: Masonic History Masonic Conspiracies by Bro:. Robert Johnson from Whence Came You? Podcast. Masonic History Masonic Apron Protects County Documents During the civil war, In Brunswick County Virginia, an act of benevolence, perhaps brotherhood, saved the county records from being destroyed. On May 15, 1864, Union troops were approaching the courthouse. The reputation that preceded this troops was an unnerving one for the county officials; especially since in addition to burning bridges and cutting confederate communication lines, some union troops were burning down the historical records as they moved through towns. As the Brunswick's county clerk of the courts, Edward Randolph Turnbull, received news of the impending arrival of the Union Troops, he resorted to a quite unconventional way of protecting his county's documents. He stacked the priceless documents on top of a table in the courthouse and draped them (veiled them) with his Masonic Apron hoping that, as many other Union Officers at the time, the approaching one was a Mason. This unorthodox yet inspiring defense seemed to have worked perfectly, as the apron was later delivered, presumably by a Union Troop, directly to Turnbull's house. When Turnbull returned to the courthouse, to his surprise, the office was ransacked, except for the stack of documents he had entrusted to the care of his Lambskin. You can read more about this piece of Masonic and American History by reading the original story featured in the Richmond Times Dispatch on March 17, 2013. It was written by Bill Lohmann. Masonic Conspiracies The Alleged Connection between Mormons, Freemasons and Aliens On this segment, Bro:. Robert Johnson shares a very interesting Conspiracy Theory that is being shared on the internet, regarding an alleged connection between religious leaders, The Freemasons, The Illuminati and even aliens. Don't miss this insightful contribution to the podcast, by our Brother and Producer of Whence Came You Podcast. You can listen to other Masonic Conspiracies (debunked) and valuable Masonic Discussions at WCYPodcast.com Veiled In Allegory Why is this morality veiled in allegory? If we think of the great teachers that have made a difference in history, many of them expressed themselves through the effective teaching tool of allegory. One of the most efficient ways in which people can acquire knowledge is by learning new things while comparing them to already known ones. When we learn to speak, we learn a few first words and continue increasing our vocabulary by adding more words and learning how those words relate to the ones previously learned. Similarly, when learning the science of arithmetic, we begin with basic concepts and rules, which increase in complexity, but always retain some similarities to those initial concepts we first learned. Therefore, when we think of the great lessons taught by the great teachers of history and the way in which they were able to express complex concepts by comparing and contrasting them with already familiar ones, we can observe how this technique cements new ideas permanently into our mind. This veil of allegory is not merely put into place to conceal information from others outside our Order, but more importantly to aid in the recollection of these lessons, because they are intrinsically connected to other lessons and life experiences we already posses. We all know how marvelous the human brain is in its efficiency and complexity, but very few people really know that one of the quali...

The Winding Stairs Podcast: Episode 3 What makes a man a good fit to become a Mason? In the construction of a building, the stability and suitability of the foundation is crucial in its longevity; Similarly, the moral, social and spiritual upbringing of a man can be described as his foundation and what makes him suitable to become and remain a Freemason. Masonic Education Revisited In episode 2 of The Winding Stairs (http://TheWindingStairs.com/002) we discuss various ways in which a man can acquire Masonic Light. Among them we discuss the continuous study of Masonic Literature, which today has become more accessible than ever, due to advances in technology like Google Books or LibriVox. These two valuable resources gives us access to countless publications related to our Fraternity. When do you spend time reading and studying? We posted a question on our Facebook page, regarding what time of day our listeners chose to read and study. One of the answers was that early in the morning before beginning the workday. I really enjoyed that answer because it relates to the topic of a solid foundation. I think about beginning the day by reading edifying content as the laying of a solid foundation upon which a productive day is erected. I encourage you to try it and welcome any suggestions you might have about how to start your day right or what is the ideal time for you to study. Enter your comments below or on our Facebook Page and adding your contributions there. A Solid Foundation: Is your temple resting upon the stability of a solid foundation? Like an architect ensures that the ground upon which the envisioned building will be constructed, as Masons we are responsible to ensure that those who knock on our Lodge's doors are given access to our family, only if they are found to posses a solid foundation. On our discussion of a Solid Foundation on the previous blog post, we talk about the example of the Tower of Pisa in Italy, which although it was a beautiful creation, those in charge of its construction did not prepare the ground adequately for a building of its magnitude. We admire the beauty of this building and the marvel of architecture and engineering that its preservation has become. However, countless hours and talent has been poured into preventing a catastrophe and maintaining the integrity of the building and it is a burden that could have been avoided from its inception. (we recommend that you also read the post titled "A Solid Foundation", which includes more information about the allegorical similarities between The Leaning Tower of Pisa and the importance of a solid foundation within those interested in freemasonry.) It would be wise for Lodge members, when given the opportunity to serve their Lodges as members of the petitions or investigative committees  to make sure that only those men who are worthy and well qualified are given admittance to our honorable fraternity. Not to heed this advise could result in the Lodge incurring in unnecessary time and effort to revert the mistake made initially  We are the stewards and guardians of this Brotherhood and if we give admittance to people whose intention is not honorable, we jeopardize the future of our Lodges and the harmony within it. 5 Simple Requirements for a Man interested in joining Freemasonry 1. Honorable Man: Freemasonry opens its doors to men of honor. To good men, of good character and high morals. 2. Lawful Age: This requirement varies between States, but normally fluctuates between 18 and 21 years of age. If you are younger than this, there are Masonic Youth organizations like DeMolay International, which works closely with local Masonic Lodges. 3. Well Recommended: For a candidate to gain admittance to the Order, he must enjoy a good reputation and have other Freemasons willing to recommend him. But, what if you don't know any Masons? If you contact your local Lodge and are invited to visit them,

The Winding Stairs Episode 2: Masonic Education When a man decides he wants to learn more about Freemasonry, often times it is because they see something admirable on others who are already members of the Fraternity. It often stems from the desire to grow as human beings and serve as an example for others. However, merely joining the Fraternity is not enough. It is important that a Man stays desirous of Light in order for that wish of improvement to become a reality. Therefore, it is through the conscious effort to learn and apply the tenets of Freemasonry, that a Man can thereby become the inspiration to others who have not yet joined the Craft. As we improve ourselves, through the steady pursuit of Light, we become better Men and become an integral part of the cycle of self-improvement afforded to us by Freemasonry. In This Episode of The Winding Stairs Podcast you will find: Topic Update: We briefly revisit our study on Patience. The introduction of a New Program Segment titled: “In The News”. We will discuss various resources of Masonic Education. We highlight some of your comments from the previous episode. Are you enjoying this program? I hope you find the content of this program to be edifying; So, please let us know your opinion about this and other episodes by leaving your comments in the comments section. Your ratings and reviews on any of the audio players will be greatly appreciated and they help the show become better every time. Supplement your Masonic Education by listening to Masonic Programs We invite you to listen, in addition to this program, to a great Masonic Program titled “Whence Came You?” Hosted by Brother Robert Johnson. It includes reviews on Masonic Papers, Information on Famous Freemasons and it brings some obscure Freemason Conspiracies to light and dispels their claims. Overall it is a very edifying and entertaining program. You can find it by visiting http://www.WCYPodcast.com or find him on http://Facebook.com/WhenceCameYou . Patience Revisited: We read what King Solomon said about the relationship between Wisdom and Patience. For this fascinating nugget of information we go to the New International Version of the Bible for Reference. Why quote from the Bible? The Holy Bible is My Great Light, but even if it is not the same Source of Light as yours, we should recognize that it includes great truths, just like many other volumes of Sacred Law and it is prudent for us to not dismiss their Light simply because we follow a different Faith. Proverbs 19:11 “A person’s wisdom yields patience; It is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.” New Segment: In The News An Exhibition titled “Treasures of Arkansas Freemasonry” opens at the Historic Arkansas Museum. The exhibition was organized by the Grand Lodge of Arkansas to celebrate their 175th Anniversary from receiving their charter in 1853. The exhibition features an Exhibition of Masonic Treasures from 1838 to the present and includes artifacts like: Masonic Aprons Jewels Gavels The chair of Arkansas most famous Mason, Albert Pike George Washington Family Bible When? February 8 - July 12, 2013 For more information Link: http://www.historicarkansas.org/exhibits/newsDetail.aspx?id=254 The second news article is about an arson attempt, which was thwarted by a Brother who was in the building at the time of the intrusion.Where? Cincinnati Lodge No. 3 in Morristown NJWhen? February 8th 2013 around 10:30 pmA man broke through the front doors of the Lodge carrying jugs full of gasoline.A Lodge caretaker happened to be inside the Lodge at the time and managed to wrestle and restrain the man until the police came to arrest him. The brother sustained minor injuries and the Lodge’s only reported damaged was as a result of the combustible that was spilled in the ordeal. Help us keep the program growing When you place an order through the Marketplace section of The Winding St...