It’s not about “taking turns”; it’s about getting the job done properly.

Throughout the corporate world we have seen examples of the Peter Principle in practice, whereby people rise above their level of competency; people who make a mockery of their job and discredit their company and themselves in the process. Perhaps they were promoted because nobody else wanted the job or perhaps they were simply selected based on seniority; maybe they politicked for the job and were rewarded not for what they had accomplished but their ability to kiss the backside of someone else in authority, aka “cronyism”. Regardless, they have risen above their ability to effectively perform the job they were assigned. In many cases, the job in question is just a pit stop in the road to the top, but more often than not, they covet the position they have acquired and either perform it with an iron fist or just let the work go to pieces (or both). This naturally raises the ire of subordinates and others more qualified to perform the work. It also becomes rather obvious to customers and vendors who have to deal with the person. Naturally, they scratch their head in bewilderment as to why this person was selected for promotion.

We also see this phenomenon in nonprofit organizations where people are seeking social stature as opposed to performing anything of merit, be it a homeowner association, a sports club, a professional trade society, a civic organization or whatever. Those who tend to covet titles in such groups normally suffer from low self-esteem as they never accomplished anything of substance in their professional lives and now crave recognition. Even in the most rudimentary 501(c) organization, they fail to grasp it is a legal entity in the eyes of the state which must conform to certain legalities. Failure to execute specific rules and regulations can easily lead to lawsuits and disaster.

I have seen too many Masonic Lodges where officers are promoted “through the chairs” without making an effort to learn anything along the way. If they graduate to the East, the Lodge usually suffers and the other officers are forced to pickup the slack. If they are voted out of office before reaching the top they are crestfallen and fade from view. Both scenarios upset the harmony of the Lodge and is indicative of the barbaric way Masons elect officers.

To the individual, promotion is a confirmation of his abilities. If he is a poor performer, his advancement sends a dangerous message that his work meets with the approval of others. Naturally, the person will not change and continue in his faulty ways. If his progression is arrested though, he will question why. Hopefully, he will receive some coaching along the way before this happens which is one reason why I’m a big proponent of Employee Performance Evaluations (click for a free COPY). Such reviews are just as pertinent in a nonprofit organization as they are in the corporate world. Without such reviews or coaching, and the person is rejected, he is blindsided and his ego is shattered.

To assure the right people are selected for key posts, political machines are often devised thereby compromising the harmony of an organization. You either play ball with the good old boys in charge or forget about progressing through the organization. Sadly, you find this in both the corporate and nonprofit world. It’s distasteful and ultimately impedes the organization’s effectiveness. Whenever the wrong person is put into a position of authority, the systems of the organization falter, productivity slips, the moral values of the business are put into question, and harmony is disrupted. Basically, it’s a “lose-lose” situation that can be difficult to rectify.

Aside from the political aspect, I am at a loss as to why people believe they should be elevated, particularly if they have not demonstrated they possess the skills or fortitude necessary to successfully perform the work. Perhaps it is a sense of entitlement, that it’s “their turn” to be promoted. Such a mindset is invalid and should be rebuked as nobody is entitled to a position based on “turns”; it’s ludicrous. People should be selected for promotion based strictly on qualifications and availability. In situations where people are selected out of desperation, it should be made clear to them that retaining their job and any possible advancement in the future depends on their ability to successfully execute their job and prepare for the next. The lack of counseling and instruction in this regard does them a disservice. Likewise, the failure to heed the advice does the organization a disservice.

Nonprofit organizations are particularly susceptible to promoting people through the ranks without merit. Such organizations today are struggling for members and consequently beg people to take positions out of desperation. The group, therefore, shouldn’t be surprised when such people accomplish nothing. Instead of pleading with people to take a volunteer job, perhaps it is time to merge with another like-minded organization, change your approach to membership, curtail what you are trying to accomplish, or call it a day.

Part of the problem is the myth that everybody must win, that nobody loses, which is something we have been fostering in our youth over the last few decades. This is just plain fallacious. Just about every aspect of life involves instances of winners and losers with the lesson being: if you want something, you must earn it. Only then will you value it as opposed to having it dropped in your lap without lifting a finger.

So, why do we reward incompetence? Maybe it’s because we don’t want to hurt someone’s feelings; maybe we want to throw someone a bone as a political gesture; maybe it’s someone’s “turn”; or maybe we simply do not have anyone else to do the job right now. Regardless, the person has received it for all the wrong reasons. Hopefully, they will rise to the occasion and do a competent job. Unfortunately, most do not and damage the organization, not to mention earning the ire and resentment of others. Remember this: for every person who takes a job they have no intention of performing, somebody else must compensate and perform the duty.

Rewarding incompetence is one of the most common management snafus that has cursed companies of all sizes and shapes for years. Longevity of a problem doesn’t make it right, it just means people do not want to deal with it, hoping instead it will go away on its own which, of course, never does. The message must be made clear to all involved, promotions must be earned. In desperate situations where people are forced into positions they are not qualified, they must be coached properly, but if they fail to assume their duties and responsibilities, or even try to put forth an honest effort, it must be made vividly clear their journey upward in the corporate hierarchy will come to a screeching halt. Advancing does a disservice to the company, the people, and the individual. It is just plain bad business.

Keep the Faith!

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M. Bryce & Associates (MBA) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 30 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For Tim’s columns, see:
http://www.phmainstreet.com/timbryce.htm

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND

Copyright © 2012 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

The Master of Dunedin Lodge, W:.Mike Palenik (right), congratulates Deputy Todd Hoddinott.
Looking on is the Deputy’s wife, Lisa.
Click on photo to enlarge.

 DUNEDIN, FL, USA (November 28, 2011) – As has become a tradition for the last seven years, Dunedin Masonic Lodge No. 192 recognized a Pinellas County Sheriff’s Deputy for outstanding service to the community. The 2011 “Deputy of the Year” award was presented to Deputy Tom Hoddinott at a special dinner held at Kally-K’s Restaurant in Dunedin.  Making the presentation was W:.Ken Giesow, PM  of Dunedin Lodge. Also in attendance was Major Wayne Morris, Deputy Hoddinott’s supervisor, along with fellow officers from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.

According to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, “Deputy Tom Hoddinott has been a Pinellas County Sheriff’s deputy since July 1985. He started out in the Detention and Corrections Bureau and has served in various capacities with the agency including Patrol Operations and the Criminal Investigations Division where he worked in the Property Crimes Section assigned to the City of Dunedin. He is currently assigned to the Patrol Operations Bureau working out of the North District Station on Dayshift.”

On August 26, 2011 Deputy Hoddinott was on patrol in the City of Dunedin driving north on Pinehurst Road. Deputy Hoddinott noticed a suspicious vehicle backed into the driveway of a residence.  Upon investigation, he discovered and broke up a major marijuana farm being grown inside the residence.  Based on the Deputy’s intuition, coupled with his many years of experience, resulted in an excellent self-initiated criminal case being made. The male who burglarized the home was arrested for Residential Burglary and Violation of Probation and the owner of the house was arrested for felony Manufacturing/Cultivation of Marijuana. This subject was also currently on probation for a previous charge of Sale, Manufacture and Delivery of Marijuana. The equipment used to grow the marijuana was disabled and 33 marijuana plants were taken off the street. For this self-initiated act which contributed to a valuable law enforcement accomplishment, and for the outstanding work he does every day, Deputy Hoddinott was nominated to be Dunedin Lodge’s Deputy of the Year.

For his efforts, Dunedin Lodge gave Deputy Hoddinott a dinner in his honor, awarded him a plaque, and a gift of $100 which the Deputy immediately donated to the Florida Sheriff’s Youth Ranch which helps to prevent delinquency and develop strong, lawful, resilient, and productive citizens who will make a positive contribution to our communities for years to come.

According to the Master of the Lodge, W:.Mike Palenik, PM “Dunedin Lodge is proud of our long tradition of supporting local law enforcement personnel. On behalf of the Lodge, we congratulate Deputy Hoddinott and thank him for his years of service and dedication. We are proud of the PCSO.”

Favorite Quotes of Tim Bryce on Life, Business, Sports, Politics and Government.  Part 2

Excerpted from the book The Freethinking Freemason – Collected Masonic Works of Tim Bryce

QUOTATIONS FROM FAMOUS MASONS WHO WERE MILITARY LEADERS

“It’s got to be done and done quickly, so let’s get it done.”

– Bro. Henry “Hap” Arnold
U.S. General, Commander of the Army Air Force
Union Lodge No. 7 A.F.& A.M., Junction City, MO, USA

“I learned that good judgment comes from experience and that experience grows out of mistakes.”

– Bro. Omar N. Bradley
General, U.S. Army; “The Soldier’s General”
West Point Lodge No. 877 F.& A.M., Highland Falls, NY, USA

“Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!”

– Bro. David G. Farragut
Union Admiral in U.S. Civil War
Naval Lodge No. 87 F.& A.M., Mare Island, CA, USA

“Take time to deliberate; but when the time for action arrives, stop thinking and go in.”

– Bro. Andrew Jackson
U.S. General and President
Harmony Lodge No. 1 F.& A.M., Nashville, TN, USA

“As you know that the Credit of the Service depends not only on dealing fairly with the men Employed in it, but on their belief that they are and will be fairly dealt with.”

– Bro. John Paul Jones
Founder and first admiral of the U.S. Navy
St. Bernard’s Kilwinning Lodge No. 122 (now St. Cuthbert No. 41), Kirkudbright, Scotland

“You are ordered abroad as a soldier of the King to help our French comrades against the invasion of a common enemy. You have to perform a task which will need your courage, your energy, and your patience. Remember that the honor of the British Army depends on your individual conduct. It will be your duty not only to set an example of discipline and perfect steadiness under fire, but also to maintain the most friendly relations with those whom you are helping in this struggle…. Do your duty bravely. Fear God and honor the King.” (a printed address to the British Expeditionary Force carried by soldiers during World War I)

– Bro. & Lord Horatio Herbert Kitchener
British General
PM – British Union Lodge No. 114, Ipswich, England, and La Concordia Lodge, Cairo, UGLE

“It is a rule in war never to leave a fort in your rear.”

– Bro. Henry Knox
Major General, U.S. Revolutionary War
First U.S. Secretary of War
St. Johns Regimental Lodge F.& A.M., Morristown, NJ, USA

“No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation.”

– Bro. Douglas MacArthur
U.S. General of the Army
Manila Lodge No. 1, Manila, Philippines

“A competent leader can get efficient service from poor troops, while on the contrary an incapable leader can demoralize the best of troops.”

– Bro. John Joseph “Blackjack” Pershing
U.S. General, WWI
Lincoln Lodge No. 19 A.F.& A.M., Lincoln, NE, USA

“Up men to your posts! Don’t forget today that you are from old Virginia.”

– Bro. George Pickett (at Gettysburg)
Major General CSA
Blandford Lodge F.& A.M., Petersburg, VA, USA

“Courage is doing what you’re afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you’re scared.”

– Bro. Eddie Rickenbacker
Captain, American Air Force Ace WWI
Kilwinning Lodge No. 297 F.& A.M., Detroit, MI, USA

“Brave rifles, veterans, you have been baptized in fire and blood and have come out steel!”

– Bro. Winfield Scott
General, U.S. Army
Dinwiddlie Lodge No. 23 A.F.& A.M., Virginia, USA

“There is no such thing as bravery; only degrees of fear.”

– Bro. Jonathan M. Wainwright
U.S. General of the Bataan Peninsula, WWII
Union Lodge No. 7 A.F.& A.M., Junction City, KS, USA

“We must never despair; our situation has been compromising before; and it changed for the better; so I trust it will again; If difficulties arise; we must put forth new exertion and proportion our efforts to the exigencies of the times.”

– Bro. George Washington
U.S. General and President
Fredericksburg Lodge No. 4 A.F.& A.M., Fredericksburg, VA, USA

FAMOUS MASONS WHO SERVED IN THE U.S. SUPREME COURT

“The very reason for the First Amendment is to make the people of this country free to think, speak, write and worship as they wish, not as the Government commands.”

– Bro. Hugo L. Black
Birmingham Temple Lodge No. 836 F.& A.M.
Birmingham, AL, USA

“The law does not expect a man to be prepared to defend every act of his life which may be suddenly and without notice alleged against him.”

“To listen well is as powerful a means of communication and influence as to talk well.”

“The acme of judicial distinction means the ability to look a lawyer straight in the eyes for two hours and not to hear a damned word he says.”

– Bro. John Marshall
Chief Justice (1801-1835)
Grand Master of Virginia (1793 & 1794)

“Next to the right of liberty, the right of property is the most important individual right guaranteed by the Constitution and the one which, united with that of personal liberty, has contributed more to the growth of civilization than any other institution established by the human race.”

“There is nothing so despicable as a secret society that is based upon religious prejudice and that will attempt to defeat a man because of his religious beliefs. Such a society is like a cockroach – it thrives in the dark. So do those who combine for such an end.”

– Bro. William Howard Taft
27th President and U.S. Chief Justice
Initiated Occasional Lodge, Cincinnati, OH;
Affiliated Kilwinning Lodge No. 356, Cincinnati, OH, USA

“In civilized life, law floats in a sea of ethics.”

“The man of character, sensitive to the meaning of what he is doing, will know how to discover the ethical paths in the maze of possible behavior.”

– Bro. Earl Warren
Chief Justice (1953 – 1969)
Grand Master of California (1935 – 1936)

SENTIMENTS REGARDING THE FRATERNITY BY MASONS AND NON-MASONS ALIKE

“Gentlemen, I have always entertained a profound respect for the Masonic fraternity and have long cherished a desire to become a member…”

– Abraham Lincoln, 1860

“What couldn’t a million Masons do if they made a concerted effort to change the world? We could approximate brotherhood in the twinkling of an eye.”

– Dwight D. Eisenhower

“I say today, thank God for Masons and for all affiliated with this outstanding organization because you bring good, and the more good we bring, the closer we get to a more perfect world, so that the children of this world can indeed know peace, have freedom, and seek dreams.”

– Bro. Dirk Kempthorne
Governor, State of Idaho
September 16, 2004

“I am closing my address with a confession.

Since becoming a Freemason, I forgot hate. Instead, I learned to love – to love God and my fellowman. I am now at ease with my own conscience. I only do what I think is right, and shun all evil. I also forget fear. I can be alone no matter where I am, what I do, or where I go.

A clean conscience makes a man brave. I hope that Freemasonry has had the same influence upon all of you, which is an assurance of a better world to live in, and a happier humanity to live with.”

– Bro. & Gen. Emillio Aguinaldo, Filipino Hero,
Addressing the Grand Lodge of the Philippines in 1955

“Through Freemasonry, however, I have had opportunity to break bread with good men of other than my own Christian faith. Freemasonry does not promote any one religious creed. All Masons believe in the Deity without reservation. However, Masonry makes no demands as to how a member thinks of the Great Architect of the Universe. Freemasonry is, for all its members, a supplement to good living which has enhanced the lives of millions who have entered its doors. Though it is not a religion, as such, it supplements faith in God the Creator. It is supporting of morality and virtue.

Freemasonry has no dogma or theology. It offers no sacraments. It teaches that it is important for every man to have a religion of his own choice and to be faithful to it in thought and action. As a result, men of different religions meet in fellowship and brotherhood under the fatherhood of God. I think that a good Mason is made even more faithful to the tenets of his faith by his membership in the Lodge.”

– Bro. & The Reverend Dr. Norman Vincent Peale

“From my earliest recollection, sitting about my father’s knees, who was a Mason, and hearing him and fellow Masons talk, I imbibed the impression in early childhood that the Masonic fraternity is one of the most helpful mediating and conserving organizations among men, and I have never wavered from that childhood impression, but it has stood steadfastly with me through the busy and vast hurrying years.”

– Bro. George W. Truett (1867-1944)
Former President of the Southern Baptist Conference (SBC) (1927-1929)

“It is no secret that Masons love and revere the Bible. Nor is it a secret that Masonry helped to preserve it in the darkest age of the church when infidelity sought to destroy it. The Bible meets Masons with its sacred message at every step of progress in its various degrees.”

– Bro. & Dr. James P. Wesberry
Former Executive Director and Editor of
the Southern Baptist Publication “Sunday”

“In a day of mistrust, suspicion, discrimination, separation and even hatred, Freemasonry removes the distance between men. Friendship, morality, and brotherly love are the hallmarks of our relationships. There is a basic integrity in the Fraternity so often lacking in many of life’s relationships…. Let me quickly and emphatically say that Freemasonry is not and has never been a religion; however, Freemasonry has always been a friend and ally of religion. In 50 years as a minister and as a Mason, I have found no conflict between my Masonic beliefs and the Christian faith.”

“My Masonic activities have never interfered with my loyalty to and my love for my Church. Quite the contrary, my loyalty to my Church has been strengthened by my Masonic ties. Good Masons are good Churchmen.”

“Let no one say you cannot be a Christian and a Mason at the same time. I know too many who are both and proud to be both.”

– Bro. & Bishop Carl J. Sanders
United Methodist Church

“Good Masons make good churchmen. Every clergyman can testify to the truth of this. They make loyal and sacrificing patriots. Our colonial history supplies the proof of this assertion. All Masons are not ardent church members but neither are all church members ardent for the church. Yet the proof is clearly and abundantly evident that the Masonic fraternity is an influence for good in personal and community life.

Freemasonry is not a religion. It has never claimed to be, and has always corrected those of the Brotherhood who unthoughtfully would say ‘Freemasonry is my religion.’ Freemasonry has always been a friend and ally of religion. Religious people have found a congenial fellowship within the Lodge and have not been embarrassed by what takes place there. In many respects, Freemasonry may be called a religious institution owing its ‘origin and morality to the religious element.’ But this is something different from being a religion. A hospital can be a religious institution but not a religion.”

– Bro. & Rev. Bishop Fred Pierce Corson
Methodist Bishop of Philadelphia and
President of the World Methodist Council

ALBERT PIKE (1809-1891)

Teacher, poet, essayist, trapper, explorer, historian, revolutionary, newspaper editor, lawyer, legal scholar, political activist, publisher, military commander, orator, State Supreme Court Chief Justice, philosopher, and devoted Freemason.

“That which causes us trials shall yield us triumph: and that which make our hearts ache shall fill us with gladness. The only true happiness is to learn, to advance, and to improve: which could not happen unless we had commence with error, ignorance, and imperfection. We must pass through the darkness, to reach the light.”

“What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.”

“To work with the hands or brain, according to our requirements and our capacities, to do that which lies before us to do, is more honorable than rank and title.”

“Almost all the noblest things that have been achieved in the world, have been achieved by poor men; poor scholars, poor professional men, poor artisans and artists, poor philosophers, poets, and men of genius.”

“A war for a great principle ennobles a nation. A war for commercial supremacy, upon some shallow pretext, is despicable.”

“He who endeavors to serve, to benefit, and improve the world, is like a swimmer, who struggles against a rapid current, in a river lashed into angry waves by the winds. Often they roar over his head, often they beat him back and baffle him. Most men yield to the stress of the current… Only here and there the stout, strong heart and vigorous arms struggle on toward ultimate success.”

“Above all things let us never forget that mankind constitutes one great brotherhood; all born to encounter suffering and sorrow, and therefore bound to sympathize with each other.”

Keep the Faith.

by: W:.Tim Bryce, PM, MPS
timb001@phmainstreet.com
Palm Harbor, Florida, USA
“A Foot Soldier for Freemasonry”
Originally published on FmI in 2008

NOTE: The opinions expressed in this essay are my own and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of any Grand Masonic jurisdiction or any other Masonic related body. As with all of my Masonic articles herein, please feel free to reuse them in Masonic publications or re-post them on Masonic web sites (except Florida). When doing so, please add the following:

Article reprinted with permission of the author and www.FreemasonInformation.com. Please forward me a copy of the publication when it is produced.

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Also be sure to check out Tim’s “Pet Peeve of the Week“ (non-Masonic related).

Copyright © 2008 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

A person’s trustworthiness can be measured by the number of metal keys he possesses. Each key represents a trust or responsibility the person has committed to maintaining. I tend to believe the more keys a person has, the more he is trusted; the fewer keys he possesses, less so. I have three sets of keys I maintain; one set for my office and home, one for the Masonic Lodge where I serve as Secretary, and a set of car keys; in all, I generally carry 40+ keys which is a lot and quite uncomfortable if I try to carry them in a single pocket.

We use keys because most of us cannot remember combinations or passwords. For example, I would be hard pressed to remember combinations and passwords to replace my 40+ keys. Keys may be low tech, but they are effective for safeguarding most of our possessions, such as houses, offices, desks, equipment, supplies, vehicles, boats, garbage cans, weapons, etc. Some people believe magnetic cards are an effective alternative to keys, but I am hearing too many horror stories of people having their identities stolen through such cards. Key pads are nice too, but again you have the memorization problem to consider. Keys may be a hassle to carry, but they are probably the most cost effective solution around.

Perhaps the biggest problem with keys is we often forget what they are used for. As I mentioned, I have three sets. I know all of my car keys, but I probably only know 75% of my office/house keys. I have had them so long I frankly have forgotten what they are all used for. The big keys I can generally figure out, usually for a door of some kind, but it’s the little ones where I draw a blank. I’m sure they are for some obscure cabinets or desks I’ve long forgotten about. I may have even discarded the cabinets or desks and forgotten to throw the keys away in the process.

The same is true with my Lodge keys which I inherited some time ago. I know most of them, but there are a few that I simply draw a blank. This disturbs me greatly as I don’t like to be so disorganized, but I think all of us are in possession of a key or two (or more) which we haven’t got a clue as to its purpose.

When I assumed the Secretary’s duties, I dutifully cleaned out my predecessor’s desk. In the process, I found even more keys which looked quite old but seemed to be important. I’ve tried them on many locks but cannot seem to figure out what they are used for. I suspect one is for some secret vault where Masonic treasures are stored, such as the Holy Grail.

As tempted as I am to throw all of these old keys away, I’m afraid of doing so because, “You never know” when they might indeed serve a purpose. I don’t know about you but my luck is such that as soon as I discard a key, I inevitably discover its purpose and need to reproduce it requiring a locksmith thereby becoming a more costly proposition.

The only thing worse than having too many keys is to lose them. For most of us, this is the closest thing to madness we’ll ever experience. It’s bad enough we have misplaced our keys, we then begin to suffer from delusional scenarios of Jack the Ripper sacking our homes in the middle of the night.

Keys may be symbolic of someone’s trustworthiness, but they are certainly a hassle to hold and to lose. I just wish retina-scanning or fingerprint technology was more advanced and affordable. It would certainly be a lot easier on my pocket and state of mind.

Keep the Faith!

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M. Bryce & Associates (MBA) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 30 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For Tim’s columns, see:
http://www.phmainstreet.com/timbryce.htm

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Tune into Tim’s THE BRYCE IS RIGHT! podcast Mondays-Fridays, 11:30am (Eastern).

Copyright © 2011 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

NOTE: Brothers and Friends – this will be my last posting of the Masonic Weekly Digest as my responsibilities are changing thereby precluding me from devoting the time necessary to put this together.  I don’t know precisely how long I made these postings but I hope it shed further light on the fraternity.

RECENT MASONIC NEWS:

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Christmas for children
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Officers installed by Wick Lodge 481
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The Masons record a firstas 3 brothers take top posts
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Masons broke own rules, lawyer argues in closing
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Freemasons keep to strong fundamental base
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New York State Fines Dumont Masonic Nursing Home of New Rochelle $20000
Talk of the Sound – NY, USA – Dec 15th

Jury sides with Grand Lodge in Mason expulsion case
Charleston Gazette – WV, USA – Dec 15th

Jury finds Masons not guilty in case
Daily Mail – Charleston, WV, USA – Dec 15th

Masons’ program inspires kids to read
Napa Valley Register – CA, USA – Dec 16th

NOTICES:

New Web SIte – Masonic Wiki
http://www.masonicwiki.info/

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If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

All the Best,
Tim Bryce, PM, MPS, MMBBFMN
timb001@phmainstreet.com
Palm Harbor, Florida, USA
“A Foot Soldier for Freemasonry”

P.S. – Author of, “The Freethinking Freemason”
http://cornerstonepublishers.com/freethinking.html

I don’t want to sound like Scrooge or the Grinch, but Christmas is not one of my favorite holidays. I see it more as something for the kids as opposed to adults. Before I get started though, I want to make something perfectly clear; I still refer to this season as “Christmas” as opposed to the “Holidays” which may sound more politically correct, but to me it’s an admission that Christians are in retreat in this country. I am not a super-religious person mind you, but it bothers me that we have turned the celebration of Christ’s birth into a marketing bonanza. To illustrate my point, consider the following:

• We spend millions on lights and decorations around the house as opposed to investing in our planet and conserving energy resources.
• Instead of helping the less fortunate, we give opulent gifts to people who really do not need them. Last time I checked, there are still places in the world where people are sick and hungry, and need an education or a roof over their heads.
• As opposed to trying to replenish our forests, we kill trees to do nothing more than decorate our homes for a few scant days.
• Instead of promoting Christ’s words of peace, we are still at war with ourselves, particularly at the checkout counter.

If this has all changed, I must have missed the memo on it.

In the workplace, we exchange superficial gifts more because we feel we have to rather than because we want to. I would much rather have a heartfelt handshake than most of the gifts I have received in the office. But then again, this probably isn’t politically correct either. I have even seen people compete over who is going to give the most extravagant gift to someone for political purposes as opposed to the generosity of their heart.

It is also customary to hold office parties this time of year, much to the delight of caterers, restaurants, hotels, entertainers, etc. But I wonder if the substantial money expended here would be put to better use by rewarding the employees with a bonus instead.

Following Thanksgiving, the media immediately shifts its programming into the Yule tide swing with Christmas music on the radio, and specials on television. It seems a little like brainwashing to me to force you into the Christmas spirit weeks before the actual holiday. I’m sorry, but I don’t like being coerced into anything.

I wonder what Jesus would say about all of these shenanigans. First, he would probably wonder who the jolly fat guy was in the red outfit. I imagine he would tell us that we all have our priorities wrong. I can even hear him say, “Hey guys, you even got the day wrong!”

If Jesus were to come back, I’d bet he would be kidnapped by the marketing people for at least the month of December, maybe longer.

With this said, I sincerely wish everyone, be you a Christian, a Jew, a Muslim, or whatever, a very merry Christmas, not because I’m trying to force my religious beliefs down your throat, but because I genuinely wish you Peace on Earth, good will toward men. Maybe I do have the Christmas spirit after all.

Keep the Faith!

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M. Bryce & Associates (MBA) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 30 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

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