Tolerance isn’t passive. It’s not silence. It’s not simply “putting up with” difference.
Tolerance is work. Bridge-building work.
And in Freemasonry, we are builders by tradition. Not of walls...but of connections. Of understanding. Of peace.
The trowel, one of our most cherished symbols, reminds us of this labor. It spreads the cement of brotherly love and affection. It binds stone to stone, not by force, but by care. By intention. By skill.
In a divided world, this is sacred work.
It means listening when it’s easier to argue. It means showing up when it’s easier to withdraw. It means extending a hand across the gap, especially when the gap feels wide.
Tolerance is not weakness. It is strength under control. It is the discipline of empathy.
And like any discipline, it must be practiced.
We build bridges when we:
Invite dialogue instead of debate
Share stories instead of statistics
Ask questions instead of assuming answers
Honor the humanity in those we don’t understand
This is not easy work. But it is necessary. And it is ours.
Because every Lodge is a bridge. Every Brother is a builder. And every act of tolerance is a stone laid in the path toward unity.
This week’s challenge: Reach out to someone whose views differ from your own. Not to change them, but to understand them. Ask. Listen. Learn. Lay one stone.
The bridge begins with you.
See you next Tuesday.
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