Subdue Your Passions

Brethren,

One of the first lessons I learned in Masonry was to subdue my passions. I’ll be honest, when I first heard that, I thought it sounded a little drastic. Did that mean I had to give up cigars, sports, loud music, and all the things I enjoy?

But then I caught the real message. The word is subdue, not eliminate. Masonry isn’t asking us to stop being human. It’s teaching us to govern ourselves, to keep our desires and emotions within due bounds.

That’s where the compasses come in.

The compasses draw a circle. Not a prison, not a wall, just a boundary. Within that circle, we’re reminded to keep our conduct, our emotions, and yes, our passions, under control.

I’ll give you a personal example. If you’ve ever been on the phone with me while I’m driving, you may have overheard me... subduing my passions. Like when someone’s taking forever to make a turn and every part of me wants to lay on the horn or worse. But I don’t. Because that small voice inside says, “You’re a Mason. Act like it.” That’s the compasses at work.

Another time, I was in the basement with my lodge brothers where we study and fellowship. One Brother was reading aloud and others started making fun of him, embarrassing him in front of the group. I stood up for him, but I let my own frustration get the better of me. I snapped and told one Brother to shut up. Later, he pulled me aside and told me how I had embarrassed him. That moment stuck with me. I was right to defend, but wrong in how I delivered it. The compasses reminded me later that subduing your passions isn’t just about what you say. It’s also how you say it.

Now don’t get me wrong, I still enjoy life. I still like cigars, but I know I can’t walk into my wife’s maternity appointments smelling like a cigar lounge. I still love loud music, but there are car seats in the back now, and sometimes you’ve got to turn down the bass for the sake of the family.

That’s what subduing my passions means to me. It’s not about giving up the things I love. It’s about controlling them so they don’t control me. It’s about remembering that being a Mason means practicing self-mastery, daily.

And every time I see the compasses, I’m reminded of that practice.

Thank you, Brethren.