The North Carolina Mason

I .was asked to write this by a friend whom I afterwards found to be a Brother. My surprise at the request was equal to that of being asked to coach one of our newest Entered Apprentices at our lodge. As I have only been a Master Mason for about a year, I felt under-qualified to not only act as the facilitator of a Masonic Journey, but to ultimately act as a mentor and grow/develop a candidate. Our Craft needs coaches, and more importantly, we need mentors. I do not believe that repetition of a catechism alone will create engagement in a candidate. Hollow words will fall on deaf ears. The process of coaching is a two-way journey of spiritual transmutation, and an exercise in contemplative exercise and discipline. This article will encompass a brief overview of my thoughts on the process, and I hope it will inspire other Brothers to step up and lead in their lodges. I believe that lessons are everywhere, and it is up to us to be receptive to what the Great Architect is trying to communicate to us. It is my absolute pleasure to act as a humble student and to receive the truth that is meant for myself and for my candidate. The coaching process is not just about memorization, and to distill it to that cheats the candidate out of an investment in their development, which the Masonic Journey to Master Mason requires. My candidate and I choose to spend a lot of time talking about many of the big questions in life while practicing, as contemplative exercise often calls up topics from deep in the recesses of our mind. We discuss what it means to be a Mason (I'm still not sure I have the answer for that), what it means to be a good man, how to show love to those around us, and what it means to really be there for our Brothers. My candidate is a bit younger than me, and truthfully, he is so similar to me, that I often feel like I am talking to a younger version of myself. Many of the things in my early manhood which I struggled through are the same challenges my candidate is facing. My experiences, mistakes, and learnings are in turn passed to him to hopefully save him from making the same mistakes I did. Open up to your candidate, share your heart and your struggles with them. Allow yourself to see the things in them that are parallels to who you are and reflect on them. Every Brother that I speak with has taught me something, and your candidate can do the same. Coaching: Spiritual Development or Simple Repetition? By Cole Kubicki, Wendell Lodge No. 565 16 | T H E M A S O N M AGA Z I N E

• Cover