From the East – April 2025

Greetings Brethren,

In the little free time I have, I often find myself at night reflecting on life and my daily events before falling asleep. I always seem to circle back to some variation of the same question, which I have yet to find the answer to after many years of thinking. “What is the purpose of life?” No matter how many ways you phrase this complex question they all have the same thought-provoking undertones. Some literal people tell me procreation and progression of our species. Some parents say we live for our families, while others ay “We make it what we want it to be.” All seem to be correct. Yet, I’m still not satisfied with the multitude of answers and not knowing the true reason.

I read the following passage in Introduction to Freemasonry Master Mason by Carl Claudy: “The Hiramic Legend is the glory of freemasonry; the search for that which was lost is the glory of life. Never may we find it here. You shall gaze through microscope and telescope and catch no sight of its shadow. You shall travel in many lands and far and see it not. You shall listen to all the words of all the tongues which all men have ever spoken and will speak- the Lost Word is not heard. … Never here is it to be found, but the search for it is the reason for life. The sublime degree teaches that in another life it may be found. That is why it is the sublime degree.”

This passage brought an “ah-ha” moment or realization that the answer may exist to my question but at this moment it is not opened unto my view and may never be. What is needed is faith and perseverance to continue. In Faith, that the supreme architect of the universe will endue us with all the answers we seek and perseverance in continuing through endless obstacles in life and at times, failure. I am hoping in telling you this brethren, you too will persevere through your ailments, hardships, and troubles and keep your faith in God, your family, and your brethren.

Fraternally,
WM Rudy Hatala