North Carolina Mason
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1227507
S
o there I was, wandering the aisles of
Food Lion in search of soup, crackers,
pasta and any snack in a storm. Nearby
… well … six feet away, other customers
cruised the aisles, cheerfully looking to see
what was available and shrugging it off if their
heart's desire was out of stock.
I was thinking that the level of stock was
pretty good, considering that all of
America had stormed every grocery
store in recent days in search of
comfort food … and, apparently,
toilet paper.
I headed down the ice cream aisle
– good for my mental state; bad for
my diet – when I spied him. My
friend, Brother Tommy Mills, was
doing some shopping of his own.
We saw each other at the same
time and I waved – my hand
full of Lysol wipes from my car.
We approached each other, then
stopped. I offered an air hug from
six feet away. We chatted a bit, did
some NC Mason business, and parted ways
… Tommy to paper products, me to the coffee
aisle.
It really wasn't until then in this surreal
isolation we'd all been living in that I under-
stood how much harder this might be on your
average Masonic brother than others.
I have never seen a group of friends who
love each other more. Masons connect. ey
flock to meetings, they are all in on fund-
raisers, they show up to help others in droves.
ey love to hug, give a quick peck on the
cheek, shake hands, pat backs.
Masons are people people.
Which is why it's no surprise to me to see so
many brothers – even as they wrestle them-
selves with isolation and wonder about what
happens next in this new world we share –
stepping out of their comfort zones
to help others.
As Grand Master Shaun Brad-
shaw suggested in his communica-
tions about meeting closures and
event cancellations, if brethren
can't meet as they normally do, take
that time to check in on those you
haven't seen in a while, the elderly
and those in need. Offer to shop for
them or help in some other way.
We chronicle some of that in our
cover story this issue. God willing,
this isolation will have lifted by the
time the print edition of the paper
gets to your home.
In any case, let us know how the Craft is
weathering this human storm. Send your news
to ncmason@glnc.us and we'll take it from
there.
Until we meet again, be safe. Wash your
hands. Get some rest. Pray a little. is shall
pass.
To quote poet Maya Angelou, who knew a
little about adversity and hardship, remember:
Every storm runs out of rain.
Page 4 The North Carolina Mason March/April 2020
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of North Carolina, 2921 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27608.
ird class postage paid at Oxford, NC 27565.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to e North Carolina Mason,
School Of Graphic Arts, Masonic Home for Children, Oxford, NC 27565.
Grand Master
P. Shaun Bradshaw
Board Of Publication
Kenneth Wayne Lambert, Chairman
Adam Cloninger
Dwight Decoskey
Stan Dodd
omas VanEtten
Editor
Beth Grace
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