Harmony

How wonderful and pleasant it is
    when brothers live together in harmony!
Psalm 133:1 (NLT)

The root word for harmony is the Greek word harmonia meaning: agreement or concord.  Harmonia was the word also used to describe music in ancient Greece: Pythagoreans studying the mathematics and physics of vibrating sounds and melodies and how all these chords and overtones can be mixed in concord and all together have a melodious and enjoyable flow.

Indeed, one of the seven arts and sciences Freemasons are taught to study is Music. Music is one of the chief descriptors of any culture. By simply closing your eyes and listening to the music, you can identify any culture that is tied to the particular tones and instruments playing. You can even go ahead and see a melodious flow when one mixes the music of different cultures, say the strings of an Indian Sitar, and the bass-line of the western bass guitar (I see you Punjabi MC)

But within this allegory of music (the different instruments and chords playing in a melodious tune) comes the harmony of life. The earth never ceases from its harmonious rotation about its own axis and its revolution around the sun. These have not changed as soon as they were discovered and applied into science as astronomy. There are four seasons in a year (if global warming doesn't destroy the climate of course) and the tides and ebbs of the oceans are still calculated and still the same pattern every year.

This harmony was created by God and it should be reflective in our own lives as we see it even performed in our businesses or in every institution that is well-regulated. There are different departments, different people with different roles. There is a division of labor, but with each person performing their roles, how smooth the workhorse rides without too many bumps compared to institutions where chaos, pride, egomania and other negative forces are prevalent. How much more is it not more obvious than in a family! When daddy does his part, and mommy does hers, the children follow and the family grows and progresses.

In our lodges, we have different personalities and each of them have their different tunes, chords and overtones. A wise worshipful master finds a way to align all their talents and gifts for the progress of his lodge. We as brothers and friends have to make do with the different types of people we bring into our lodge and our lives. Although different, is there a space or a key for this prospective brother to fit in and play with the orchestra?

No matter the differences we may face among ourselves, harmony is the chief proponent of progress. It brings about good feelings and positive energy which every order needs to grow and move forward. What are you doing for the harmony of your lodge?