Page 15 - MFM July 2019 W

and I was dead. is is where I broke down. While on
the oor, I looked up and saw several people around Explore Freemasory
me, looking down as if I was already lying in my grave.
For the rst time in years, I ashed back to that eve-
ning in 2003 in my closet. What if I had gone through
with it? Would this be the scene upon my discovery?
I realized as I came back into the moment that I had
been crying. What had I almost done?

As I was raised from my resting place, I was made to
look back to where I had just lain. Resting there was
the purest image and a reminder of my mortality, and
I was suddenly humbled into silence. When I looked
back, I came face to face with what had almost hap-
pened all of those years ago and made me nally deal
with it. You can call it Devine intervention, a moment
of clarity, or you could call it really good timing, but
no matter what title you attach to it, me not going
through with my initial plan, was the best decision I Grand Lodge AF&AM of Montana
PO Box 1158, Helena, MT 59624-1158
had ever made. Realizing in that moment how short (406) 442-7774 www.grandlodgemontana.org
life truly is, it was my province to use the time I have
wisely.

e night I was raised will stay with me forever.
I’ve watched and participated in several third de- Grand Lodge O cers
grees since and while they’ve always been e ective, Supporting Rainbow
it’s never really felt the same. You could say that the
brethren performing the ritual that night were very
well rehearsed and great at what they do, but I believe,
truly, there was something else at work. Something
unexplainable working through us as we toiled in the
quarry, working our craft; speaking to me personally,
making me see the error of my ways and truly under-
standing the preciousness of life.

Today, I carry that message with me always, in my
work, social life, and when raising and taking time
with my daughter. e third degree has made more
than just a personal impact on me; it’s become the
cornerstone of the superstructure I continue to build
to this day.

Reprinted from the Ontario Mason Magazine, Spring
2019.

Je Harada, Grand Master of Montana with Dan
Gardiner, Grand Secretary of Montana at the Annual
Rainbow Convocation June 22nd.

Montana Freemason Page 15 July 2019 Volume 95 No. 5