Meaningful Oddity – By Ian Love-Jones

A hospital without plumbers would have trouble staying sterile. An army without cooks wouldn’t have the energy to fight for long. And a governing body without a range of lived experiences would be disconnected from the true needs of the people. It takes all kinds. And society’s odds and ends, working together in concert, can be the beginning of beautiful things.

Here comes a candle – By Torbjörn Andersson

Wisdom rarely means having all the answers. More often, it means learning how to listen. To listen to another brother. To recognize the person who stands quietly at the edge of the fellowship. To notice the brother who carries a burden beneath his smile. To offer encouragement when it is needed. Sometimes the greatest gift we can give another person is simply to see them. This is where our values become real.

Elevating Character – By Ian Love-Jones

I did not seek initiation because of famous Odd Fellows, though there are many. The marketing doesn’t hurt though! It can be exciting to know in the back of your mind, that your name appears in the same registers with titans in history … In our enthusiasm for shared kinship with strong willed leaders, and high achievers, we should also be discerning about whom we celebrate. I caution discernment not because I ever expect humans to be perfect and uncomplicated – I expect quite the opposite, in fact. I am only observing that notoriety is not always the mark of a life spent promoting or demonstrating good character, or even a life that demonstrated redemptive change.

Light A Candle – by Ian Love-Jones

Please know that lighting a candle rather than simply cursing the darkness isn’t about ignoring challenges, looking down on healthy venting, or creating some self initiated cure-all. Lighting a candle rather than cursing the darkness is a reminder of how important it is to first find some hope, when throwing up our hands would feel far easier. It is an encouragement to do just what we can when the world seems bleak, and we are tired. Lighting a candle and not just cursing the darkness is a lesson: that even small lights when openly shone, can travel far, signal needs or solutions, summon non-judgmental helpers, and inspire others to light their own candles so that we can press back the gloom as a collective.

Paying It Forward – By Torbjörn Andersson

Every traveler receives gifts that began long before its own journey.When we enter the Lodge, we are reminded that we have inherited something precious. The traditions, ceremonies, and values surrounding me were shaped by brothers and sisters whose vision extended far beyond their own lifetime. Their work became a gift to those who would one […]

Becoming An Elder – By Ian Love-Jones

So where can the elders of today and tomorrow discover the true shape of their mantle? For me as an Odd Fellow, involvement in the Encampment is about embracing that particular journey and transition. The titles of Patriarch, Matriarch, or elder are not just about being the oldest or most experienced within a family. More broadly, those titles describe leaders, nurturers, and protectors. Those monikers describe people who provide reassurance, and a positive example. As elders within the Encampment we should inspire, teach, and develop others – all while continuing to learn.

Who Will You Empower? – By Ian Love-Jones

Your life doesn’t have to be perfect to give back. So often, people need your humanity more than your holiness, and your seasoning more than your success. Give it thought and you’ll start to discover the many ways that you could give back to someone else. You may have precious knowledge from hard earned lessons, you might have a moment to listen and encourage, or particularly as Odd Fellows, you could open the door to a world of supportive community.

The Good Things That Grow in Secret -By Torbjörn Andersson

So much of what we experience within the Lodge reveals itself gradually. A symbol that once seemed simple gains new depth. Familiar words speak differently after the passing of years. Lessons first received in ceremony continue their work long after the evening has ended. Perhaps that is part of their beauty.

A Secret Garden -By Ian Love-Jones

The fraternal lodge is a sealed space where inner growth-work can happen in seclusion. It’s a secret garden of sorts, a place where we can cultivate the delicate fruits of change that the wider world may see later on.

The hidden journey of growth is a concept known to many fraternal folks. Odd Fellows shun worldly praise in favor of “treasures in heaven” (spiritual rewards). Hermetic scholars watch over the science of gradual transformation, knowing that a controlled setting is crucial to cause and effect.

Sanctuary -By Torbjörn Andersson

One of the greatest gifts I have found in Odd Fellow is the idea of sanctuary. The word sanctuary often brings to mind a physical location. A church, a temple, or perhaps a quiet room removed from the noise of everyday life. Yet the longer I have been involved in Odd Fellow, the more I have understood that sanctuary is far more than a place. It is an experience. It is a feeling. It is a state of mind. There are certain places in life where we feel at ease almost immediately. Places where the pace slows, where conversation carries meaning, and where we can set aside the demands of the outside world for a while.

The Varieties of Fraternal Experience -By Michael Douglas, PGP WA

Every lodge is unique. That’s one of the wonderful things about the fraternal experience. We get to experience a variety of versions of a common core of practices and beliefs. Different lodges bring out different aspects of the tradition. I’d like to explore how I’ve come to think about these differences by classifying lodges into different types. Of course, any real lodge will be a combination of these. Even a “paper lodge” usually gets together for a meeting sometimes.

Is Your Lodge a Sanctuary? -By Ian Love-Jones

Odd Fellows, how well do you understand sanctuary? I ask because lodges that serve their members to the fullest, provide some forms of it. Depending on your age or circumstances your introduction to sanctuary could look very different. At 44 years old, my earliest memory of the word came from two different movie versions of Quasimodo swinging into church and calling for protection against persecution, and violence.