I recently chatted with Torbjorn Andersson, my friend and Odd brother abroad. We agreed that reflecting together on some aspect of the Order, regularly and in writing, would be a great way to let iron sharpen iron, and to always keep creative energy close at hand. That agreement fits perfectly with our first chosen topic — the nourishment of good fellowship. Here are my thoughts:
To start the exploration I’ll acknowledge that we humans don’t have an endless supply of energy. And not just in the physical, muscle-and-bone sense. Our limited resources also relate to our mental, emotional and spiritual reserves. Our capacity for focus, empathy, and compassion for others has awesome potential! But each of those resources also has human limits, and those reserves can eventually be depleted.
Now let me add this layer: our energies are not just reduced when something negative occurs. Read that again — our energies are not just reduced when something negative occurs. A joyous social occasion can still leave us physically and mentally drained after planning, setup, and cleanup. Filling the honored role of a listening ear for a friend can sometimes leave us at an emotional deficit. And even one of the most positive pursuits — growing into our best selves, may convict us so deeply that we feel our very spirit in need of restoration.
Whatever our circumstances, there is a real need for us to be nourished and restored on many levels. Understanding that makes us more able to see how good fellowship nurtures us.
With good fellowship, a few things happen at least as often as they don’t:
We feel the capability of others, which allows us to set down our burdens and to physically rest.
We feel safety from the thoughtfulness of others, which lets us lower our guard and emotionally recuperate.
We feel inspiration from those who consistently live uprightly, and who create rather than destroy. Their encouraging spark provides hope that recharges us mentally and spiritually.
Good fellowship nourishes us because it is balanced and even though demands differ from one season to the next, and one situation to the next, the constant is that good fellowship strives to take no more than it gives.
May you have the continued discerning to know good fellowship. May your lodge be ever a place of nourishment and restoration. And if there comes a season where fellowship ever takes more from you than it gives, may balance be restored in perfect timing.
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