The benefit of service in Volunteer Reserve is access to great mentor's. Men and women who know the difference between the long way home and the short path to a less pleasant place.
Traditional wisdom is that before opening the inner eye you must cultivate the virtues.
You must be ready. If you force the doors to the temple you are entering very dangerous territory. Un prepared and lacking humility.
Practising any craft demands discipline and extended periods of intense single minded focus. Excellent natural preparation.
The Journey man wanders. Faces trials, loss, pain and loneliness. But also freedom, new adventures, love and passion.
Character is what you are. It must be earned honestly.
When the time is right, initiations are arranged to test you, humble you, encourage and educate you. It could be anywhere at any time. But it is never forced. It is only ever done with prior consent.
Mason's use a different path. They artificially engineer these rights of passage within the confines and privacy of lodges. Their techniques primitive, premature, dangerous and traumatic. They are driven rather than nurtured naturally.
The Mason's use many fronts for their craft.
But the price of privilage is very high. Loss of soul.
The tools they use to kick open the door are of course symbolised by real tool's.
But busting the hinges is not the smartest way to gain entry. You loose the ability to enter and leave and close the door behind you.
Over the year's I saw many abused by these men and women. Most Mason's will deny being such. But their techniques betray them. They are motivated by the deadly sins but hide it behind the well crafted smile and charming demeanour.
The usual temptations are used to reel in their recruits. Sex, money, social status, business preferment etc.
My mentors were men of humble living. They were not bought and paid for. But they gave me a gift more precious than any jewel.
The virtues of craftsmanship V the abuses of the craft.
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