Are you leading to impact society?

"It is better to lead from behind and to put others in front, especially when you celebrate victory when nice things occur. You take the front line when there is danger. Then people will appreciate your leadership."
- Nelson Mandela

     When I chose to embark on my charitable journey to understand how the Masonic Fraternity could be used as a construct to combat and potentially diminish racism and prejudice to levels that could have a minimal affect on humanity, I questioned who was I to take upon myself such a daunting task. And then I considered the numerous people that have given of themselves for the greater good for the moral progression of humanity, the names of which are to great in number to list but of course, some that come to mind are such as Nelson Mandela, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Bayard Rustin, Rosa Parks, Gloria Richardson, and others are a few. I thought, why them and not me? Who am I to have them make such important investments of themselves into humanity that I should sit idly by and do nothing?

     We all have innate qualities, abilities that we possess naturally. We also have situations that occur that opens the door for these qualities to be of use for the world, as good things about us are meant to be for the betterment of humanity. On September 16, 2010, I had a back operation that changed the direction of my life, permanently. The Divine Creator was closing the door to my past and opening the one for my future. I had to now delve into my purpose of being. I had to search for who I was now. I turned to the philosophies and ancient wisdom found within the Fraternity of Freemasons, which has for centuries compiled such information into rituals and lectures to be explored and applied to the human condition. I had to return to college and major in history and philosophy to become academically educated to address this fire that began to burn inside me. In this exploration, I found who I was and what was to be my life's work. I could no longer be led, I had to assert myself as a leader.

     In 2013, I published my first book Freemasonry in Black and White, a narrative exploring the different misconceptions about Freemasonry and the racial composition of the Craft that had not been explored from the eyes of a man who was both Black and White, and had experienced a lifetime of racial adversity from both races simultaneously. I discovered that I could see and explain from a perspective that had not been demonstrated in a manner that was effective yet. Seeing the stirring of conversation about the racial dynamics presented in my first book, I then academically explored why this racism had been prevalent in the Craft and what were the means to abolish it and more importantly, what within the Fraternity could be used to influence a moral progression of humanity.

     I complied this information in the second book, A Spurious State of Confusion. Both books received great support from my colleagues and the editor of the magazine I write for, Robert Herd of The Living Stones Magazine found at www.livingstonesmagazine.com. I discovered that I had the voice to say things that needed to be said in a manner that was inviting and not shunning, and... I had found a solution that already existed, but simply was not being applied on a mass scale basis. I had to step out front.

     I am currently working on my third book in the Freemasonry in Black and White series, as well as a fiction book. I am completing a monologue to soon be presented in a theatrical performance. There is a television show in the works predicated on some of the information presented in my first book. And additionally, I travel quite extensively addressing the issues of racism and prejudice, and the masonic solutions that have been in the dark, but are now in the Li/G\ht for Masons and the public to use in a motivational speaking platform. This is what happens when you open your mouth with credible information to bring forth positive moral change to society.

     My question for you is, how are you leading and what positive effects are you having on the world? If you are not using your gifts yet, you should. If you have not found them yet, start looking. They are waiting for you to find them. Gifts are to be given. Find yours and give it to the world. Good luck.