Ashlar Undressed

The look of determination

Charity

Today I was driving my five year old to pre-kindergarten and we had a talk about charity. On Wednesday’s at Trinity Lutheran School it is chapel day. The kids go to chapel and while there the offering plate is passed around. My son is very curious about what happens around him so we had a talk about the plate. He now wants to give, so he asks me for some money to put in the plate. I let him know that charity should be from him. I let him know it is easy to give away others money, but true charity comes from you. He thought about it and then said, ” lets go to my piggy bank.”

We went up to his bank and he took out some money. He then asks how much? I wasn’t ready for that question. I thought we would just grab some change and move on, but this is a little bigger. When I was collecting food for the food bank people asked how much and my response was, “not til it hurts, but when it feels good.”

I reminded him that there is next week and so he doesn’t have to give it all. He sorted out a mix of different coins for a total of about 15. Then we proceeded to school. The talk on the way was about how excited he was to give and how it meant more because it was his money.

This reminds me a lot of lodge. I remember sitting in the lodge room talking about the lodges charity donations then remembering this is not my money. This is not me being charitable, this is the lodge. It reminds me that it is easy to give away others money.

In this time of economic confusion, the government is giving, bailing out, etc… But whose money is it? Who are the charitable ones?

Have a great week and lets see if the Seahawks (Huskies, Cougars, etc..) can win one this weekend.

Seahawks finally win a game this season!

This last weekend the Seahawks won their first game of the season. Unfortunately I missed the game, but my great friends and brothers from St. John’s Lodge sent me a pic of the fun time they were having. The friendships that are made in Lodge are priceless. They say a picture is worth a thousand words….

The Nile Golf & Country Club, what a great place to play…

Golf… What a great time to play a round. Golf at the Nile Golf and County Club is wonderful. After playing awhile you get to know the members and get partnered up with some great guys. There is the Oasis for a little refreshment after a hot day.

The Nile golf course was originally 10 holes. I know you are saying to yourself, “ten holes?” Well, yes. You played through the first nine then on your second trip around you substituted one of the holes. The Nile Golf Course was also private until around 1985-ish. The golf course then underwent construction to make a full 18 holes then went public to increase revenue.

There are some great holes at the Nile golf course, I personally like number three along the lake, number six because it is downhill and plays well to my natural slice, and 13 the elevated par three (it is just a fun hole).

I encourage you to play a round at the Nile Golf Course when you are in town or just want to get out. It is located almost exactly in-between Seattle and Everett, right on the King Snohomish County line. Originally it has a Seattle address, then an Edmonds address, now it is part of Mountlake Terrace.

You never know when you are going to run into an old friend.

Last weekend the Lindgren’s & Campbell’s went to Silverwood Theme Park that is located north of Coeur d’Alene Idaho. I met mark in 1983, we joined DeMolay together and have been best of friends ever since. Now are families are close and we go camping and travelling together. The friends you meet in the fraternity can last a lifetime.

But that is not the topic for today. While we were at Silverwood (in the lazy river actually) I ran into an old friend. When I was in college I coached boys youth soccer. There were 18 boys that I instructed for five years. These boys are now men in the community and I run into them every so often. Last Saturday I ran into Shawn Messer. I coached Shawn for five years and he was (and is) a great guy. He is now married with two daughters and the family looked great.

While we were talking he mentioned that my name came up at a lodge meeting. I was unaware that he was in lodge and then he informed me that he had received his first degree at Esoterika F&AM #316. I thought that was great since I am one of the founding members and Esoterika does great work. He invited me to attend his second degree and let me know he is working hard. I guess there are friends everywhere.