We Can Do It

Five weeks done, forty-seven left to make a difference.

These past two weeks have been filled with Installations at the various Chapters.  While each year, the Worthy Grand Matron and Worthy Grand Patron decide for themselves how to approach this season, this year, we are trying to get to at least one Installation in most of the larger Associations.  We've been together for the Installations of our own Chapters and are attending as many as possible in our own Districts, but past that, we've tried to spread out so that we can see our Dragon Riders and Wizards, since most who are in a large Association try to attend each other's events.

I continue to wonder just a bit why I prepared a formal emblem because everyone seems to love the dragon and castle the most.  But at least the starry sky, that my man and I both have as background, has also provided some inspiration.  It always inspires me to cast my gaze into the heavens on a clear night in the darkness and see infinity stretch out before me.

But the best part for me has been the opportunity to hear and enjoy the messages which the Dragon Riders and their Wizards have delivered in their Installation remarks.  I asked each of them to have a message in their speech, not just thank yous although thank yous are important too, but words about what they want to accomplish, their goals for the year, their thoughts on our Order, or whatever else they feel passionate about for their Chapter and so far, the ones that I have attended have done a great job of it.

I must admit to being deeply touched by the way that this year's theme, that each one of us can make a difference has been embraced by so many of our Chapter leaders and members.  I truly believe that we each want to make a difference, but fear that we cannot, and so we fear to try.  Maybe some of us fear ridicule or derision for trying something new or that the carpet suckers will mock us for our efforts.  But courage has never been about being fearless - it is about feeling the fear and apprehension and going forward anyway.  It is amazing to me sometimes how so many complaints and negative comments melt away in the face of a confident presentation and a polite refusal to give up.

Of course, when dealing with the carpet suckers, it is important to remember that there are actually two separate species of them, the up carpet suckers and the down carpet suckers.  Down ones are more dangerous.  You see, the down ones want you to fail because what you are doing is not their idea or it is not what they did or it is a change and they hate change.  The down ones actually want to pull you down and will sabotage you to fail.  Luckily, we don't have that many down carpet suckers and hopefully our success will drive some of them off, like a flea fogger. :-)

The up carpet suckers are easier to deal with because up carpet suckers are just afraid.  They don't mind if you succeed and they want things to go well, but they are terrified of change and new things.  The nice part about the up carpet suckers is that if you overcome their reluctance and get them to participate and they can see that what you are suggesting actually works, then they will embrace your new plan and can often turn into your strongest supporters.  That doesn't mean that they won't be sucking up the carpet again on the next new idea, but they are doing it out of fear and if they see your idea succeed, they will help and embrace the new reality.

So, knowing that there are carpet suckers out there and not always knowing up front the species to which they belong, it has been pleasing and gratifying to hear the Dragon Riders announcing new and exciting plans for the year, getting their Chapters geared up for community service and Masonic Family events and encouraging participation in our Make a Difference Program.  Many of the Installations I've attended actually had our Make a Difference sheet in their programs, as we did at Grand Installation, so that their members could write out their personal goal and get started on their plans for how they will make a difference in 2013.  Wow!

Next weekend, I am in Yorba Linda and San Pedro.