The Past and the Future

This past weekend at one of the Official Visits, I saw a tradition repeat that I first saw in 2008. It was cool then, but it is even cooler now. In the Central Valley, there is a Lodge that has a Bible which is decades old. The Bible was given to the Lodge by a member who asked that it be preserved and that the signatures of leaders of Masonic bodies and others be collected in it. It has the signatures of three Masonic Presidents in it, although not the latest ones, which I hope they get sometime soon, but it is also signed each year by the Worthy Grand Matron and Patron of the Grand Chapter of California. When I first saw this Bible signing, in 2008, when I was serving as Grand Warder, it was a lovely ceremony and I was thrilled to see the book. I took pictures of the 2008 signatures and also of the page with the Presidents on it. But at the time, I never dreamed that I would perhaps someday have the opportunity to sign it and it is something that I can truly look forward to. I understand that they have over five hundred signatures in the Bible so far and add to it each year. Wow! It is particularly cool to me because I have quite a few friends who are Past Grand Matrons and Patrons and I am also touched at the thought of being in this Bible with all of them, as a part of history. I hope I get the chance to do it. :-) We also attended one day of the Grand Assembly session for the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls. I have been to that several times before, but I always enjoy seeing the girls and their enthusiasm. One of the things that I find most touching about being with the Rainbow girls is the sense of happiness and amazement that I feel in the room every year. Here I am in a room with several hundred teenage girls and I can put my purse down on my chair and walk away from it and give no thought to anything happening. Here are several hundred teenage girls and they are going to be polite and respectful and kind (well maybe not always perfectly to their friends, but definitely to me. :-) What incredible girls and what an incredible organization that helps them grow into confident, mature young ladies! The only sad part of the afternoon is that they do a ceremony for the girls who are aging out of the Rainbow and there were a lot of tears as these girls realize that their membership in Rainbow is coming to a close. That is sad to watch. (On the other hand, Sisters and Brothers leave our Order in a box carried by six people, so maybe aging out is not so bad. :-) Next weekend, I am in Yorba Linda, South Pasadena and Bellflower.