We all shine on: Movable Jewel

Here's another in our series "This is Who I Am" essay, submitted by my fellow blogger and good friend and brother.

Movable Jewel here.

While my real name is readily available, I prefer not to have it splashed here and there across the Internet in conjunction with my Masonic blogging, simply because there are enough folks out there who don’t like the Masons and I have no wish to encounter any more of them than I already have.

I am the Junior Warden Elect of St. John’s Lodge #2 AF&AM, in Middletown, Connecticut, and the Senior Warden Elect of the Connecticut Philosophic Lodge of Research.

I am also a member of the Philalethes Society and my Grand Lodge’s Committee on Masonic Education.

I hold a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Connecticut and a Master’s Degree from Capella University. I work in Information Security and am a member of Infraguard, the partnership between the United States Government and the private sector. I have been at various times in my life a farrier, an amateur competitive bodybuilder, an avid horseperson, and a collector of anime cels.

I speak English, French, Japanese, Irish, and a smattering of a few other languages. I have my own blazon of arms (assumed), and am a former member of the American Heraldry Society (which I hope to get back to), and a former member of the HTML Writers Guild.

I’m fascinated by computer technology and am largely self-taught in C and in Perl. I’ve also written HTA’s for my employers and MS Office macros to increase efficiency and productivity. I also hold an A+ and Windows 2000 MCSE. I remain fascinated by computer security, but my special love is Artificial Intelligence. One of my favorite books is Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid. I hope one day to write my own expert system, having already tackled Cipher Saber, just to prove to myself that I could do it.

I came to Freemasonry through the college Greek Letter societies. I was in a fraternity in college, and when my father died in my junior year, my Brothers were instrumental in helping me keep me stable and finishing my undergraduate degree. I believe that Freemasonry offers that same support network on a much larger scale.

I would have become a Freemason years ago, if I had known one to ask. I regard the night I was raised as one of the highlights of my life. To date, I can honestly say that I have not met a Freemason that I would not trust alone with my wife. Yes, I am happily married. The day I married my wife is THE highlight of my life. I am truly blessed to share my life with such a wonderful woman.

I consider myself a spiritual person. My religious convictions are my own, and they are deeply held. I have long said however, that religion is someone else’s experience of the Divine, mysticism is your personal experience of the Divine. By that definition, I am a mystic.

I believe that Freemasonry can serve as a moral force, and as a spiritual technology. By moral force, I do not mean that it is a monolithic institution which imposes its dictums on the unwilling, but that it can take each Freemason gently and slowly into a better person, with their assent. Rather like water can pierce stone one drop at a time. By spiritual technology, I mean that its teachings can be accepted by those of any religious persuasion and be used in conjunction with one’s religious convictions to reinforce the upright teachings in all of them.

I could say more, but you’ve probably become bored already. Suffice it to say that I wish all who read this that I am happy to accept you as you are, if you accept me as I am. If you cannot, then let us shake hands and part as friends.

I hope you all have a Happy and Safe Holiday Season and a Prosperous and Joyous New Year.

Stay tuned, or not, it’s up to you.

To submit your own "This is Who I Am" essay, read this.

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