Sunday
saw the second half of our Masonic weekend. Actually, it was more like the last
third as I spent Friday night at Scottish Rite, Saturday raising money for the Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, and yesterday I was enjoying and serving pancakes at
our first annual flapjack fundraiser. Once again, we found ourselves at
Applebee’s on City Avenue but this time the proceeds were to benefit our lodge
and some of the work that needs to be done.
It
was our first attempt at such an event and while we didn’t bring in a
significant sum it was still a valuable learning experience that we got while,
at the same time, remaining in the black. It was also another great day to
spend with my wife and my brothers. Of course, we also kept the hat out from
the day before and added a little bit from our total raising money for Alex’s
cause.
Now,
I’m not a morning person and an early rise on the weekend usually equates to a
bad day but while my body may have been a bit tired I was full of energy at the
same time. This is a different kind of good tired which I have written about previously. This is the tired that follows two days of putting forth the time
and energy to give back. This is the tired that revitalizes you for the week to
come and makes you look forward to the next opportunity to give of yourself.
But
I must be honest, it wasn’t just about the fundraising. It was a great day to
get to know a little more about each of the brothers present. Young and old,
regardless of degree or affiliation with other Masonic bodies, we are all
treated as equals. We all lead different lives with the commonality of a strong
and ageless brotherhood. We welcome one another and our families. We welcome
brothers and non-brothers alike with the same warmth and invite them to join
us, in this instance, for breakfast.
It
is moments like this past weekend that reaffirm my commitment and reassure me
of my decision to become a Mason. I guess that it goes to show that not all
light can be found within the walls of the lodge. Much, if not most, light is
found in your fellow brothers and in your collective actions beyond the walls
of the lodge. Light is limitless and is present all around us; it is our job to
seek it out and recognize the illumination. If you seek light look around you,
you may be surprised at where the rays originate.
Growing
up I was never the kid who would set up a lemonade stand and try to make money
or raise funds for a charity. Alex Scott was different. Even though she was only
on this earth for a few years she started something much greater than herself,
she was the driving force behind Alex’s Lemonade Stand. Yesterday was a long,
but rewarding day, as my lodge sold lemonade at the Applebee’s on City Avenue
to raise money for this truly worth, and locally based, charity.
It
was a new experience for many of us and you could tell that there was a slight
awkwardness that most of us felt when we first arrived but it didn’t take long
before we banded together and sold as much as we could. Thankfully, it was a
beautiful, and uncharacteristically warm, November day and the steady stream of
cars (except when we dammed the flow of traffic for a few moments) provided for
a constant flow of funds. Washington provided the bulk of the currency current
with occasional ripple from Lincoln, Jackson, and Hamilton as well as one wave
from Grant.
Many
hands makes for light work and yesterday was no exception. Throughout the five
or so hours that our lodge was on that corner we had brothers come and go
contributing both time and money to the effort. Everyone gave a little bit of themselves
to fill the hat as much as we could. It was a day that I was immensely proud to
be wearing my apron outside the walls of the lodge.
Toward
the end of the day things began to slow down. The lunch rush had dwindled and
the foot traffic early came to a complete halt. It was a time for all of us to
step back, recollect, and relax a little bit as we enjoyed being in the company
of our brothers. It was especially nice for me because I also had my wife with
me to enjoy the time we spent outside contributing to Alex’s memory.
It
was around this time when we had a very special guest arrive at our little
stand. Liz Scott, Alex’s mom, walked up to greet us and see how we
were doing. Liz and her husband, Jay, supported Alex in the first few years
with a small stand in their front yard just a few blocks from where we had our
stand yesterday. Now she was supporting our efforts in the same way she
supported her daughter.
By
the end of the day we had raised almost eight hundred dollars (plus another
five hundred from the lodge) for the Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation. Not too
bad for the first time around. Of course, we are not completely done raising
money.
For
those of you so inclined you can donate $10 by texting “Lemonade E118099” to 85944.
You can also contribute by calling (866) 333-1213 or going online at http://www.alexslemonade.org/contribute.
Lastly, you can send a check or money order to the following address:
Alex's
Lemonade Stand Foundation
333 E. Lancaster Avenue #414
Wynnewood, PA 19096
Whichever
method you choose, please make sure you reference the code “E118099” so that we
can continue to build upon our efforts and solidify a much loftier goal for
next year. Thank you!
