My Brethren, family and friends,
In a few short days, many of us will pause in our daily labors to celebrate
Easter. Passover will be observed in a few weeks. The calendar also marks
the start of Spring. Less than two weeks ago, we changed our clocks, and
welcomed a few more hours of sunlight to the normal course of our days. All
around us are signs of optimism, growth and light. This time of year provides
us with plenty of reasons to maintain our spirit of optimism.
It can be tempting to give in to the cynicism we see and hear all around us.
We hear troubling news from overseas; we worry about the economy, and its
effects on our families and the people around us. We may have reason to feel
that the efforts we put in to trying to make the world a better place are not
having any effect. But if we maintain our optimism?if we hold true to the
principles of our Craft, and remember that each brick we place, each step we
take, each heart we comfort, each penny we give, all matter. All of our
efforts matter and in some way contribute to bringing some light into the lives of
people around us. So, as we pause to give thanks to our Creator for all of
the wonders and joy of life itself, and as we celebrate Easter and Passover,
in that spirit, let us promise ourselves that we will keep optimism foremost
in our hearts and in our minds.
And here I am almost at the end of what has to have been the most exciting,
awe inspiring, fun-filled two years of my entire life, and I am writing one
of my last messages to the Craft on the eve of Easter and Passover ? my last
such Holiday Message to you as your Grand Master. I thank you for the honor of
serving you.
On behalf of Joyce, Brian and I; on behalf of Ed and Helen Gilbert, our
Deputy Grand Master, our Grand Line and our extended Masonic family, we wish to
you and those you love a most joyous holiday season.
It is our wish that we all are blessed with good health and a long and
fruitful life filled with many accomplishments. May the successes we have had
together these past few years be multiplied many times in the months and years
ahead as our new leaders come to the East. May God continue to bless you and
your family and our great Fraternity. May He watch over our men and women in
military service, and may God continue to Bless America, and most especially
may we all enjoy peace, now and forever more.
Sincerely & fraternally,
Neal I Bidnick
Grand Master