Through Odd Fellowship I have discovered that nourishment carries many layers. A human being requires care for body, mind and soul. Meals share their own message. Speech carry another. Silence carries a third. Together these form a banquet that supports our journey through life.
Maybe some of our first memories of the lodge involve meals being served after meetings. Warm food fresh bread and simple desserts created a sense of peace and equality. Around the table rank and title fade and ordinary, sometimes deep, conversations take over. We remember listening to stories from senior members who had served the lodge for decades as well as newly initiated brothers and sisters. Their wisdom arrived without pressure. A small remark about friendship or truth that became food for thought.
Later we discover nourishment for the mind through ritual and symbols. The three links represent friendship love and truth. These virtues may appear easy to practice yet they require patience and reflection. Friendship asks for careful listening. Love asks for service. Truth asks for honesty in word and deed. When embraced together these virtues nourish communities and families far beyond lodge halls.
Personal experiences shapes this understanding. We have all faced a difficult period at work or in life where uncertainty and fatigue drained our energy. During that time we might have attended lodge meetings more frequently. Sharing a meal after each meeting restored our body. Hearing a short reflection during the meeting fed our minds. Feeling the presence of the members comforted our souls. We left each evening with renewed strength for the challenges ahead. Through this we learned that nourishment can arrive through simple fellowship rather than grand gestures.
Odd Fellowship encourages a balanced life where body, mind and soul receives nourishment. Meals, speeches, symbols and shared presence all serve this purpose. Through these gifts we have learned that giving nourishment is a privilege and receiving nourishment is a blessing all for the betterment of man.
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