Union Lodge No. 7

Worshipful Master’s Reflection | 2026-06-26

Lately, I’ve been doing a lot of self-reflecting (for good or bad, I’ve had a lot of time on my hands), and I came across something that honestly hit me right in the gut, a description of me from a trusted advisor - that I have an overcharged sense of responsibility.

When I first heard it, I kind of laughed… because it described me way better than I was comfortable admitting.

I’ve always been the one who tries to fix things, make sure everyone else is okay, and hold everything together when life gets messy. I don’t even think about it anymore - I just step in and carry whatever needs carrying. Somewhere along the way, I stopped asking myself, “Is this actually mine to carry?” I just assumed it was.

This year has really challenged that part of me.

There have been times I’ve felt like I was falling short because I couldn’t be everything everyone needed me to be - a husband, a father, a Worshipful Master, a provider, a friend. I kept telling myself that if I wasn’t holding it all together, then I wasn’t doing enough.

But the truth is… that’s just not realistic.

I’m starting to understand that being responsible doesn’t mean taking on everything. It means doing my part and trusting others to do theirs. It means recognizing my limits and being okay with asking for help - even when that’s uncomfortable.

As Worshipful Master, this has been a big lesson for me. Leadership isn’t about doing it all yourself. It’s about giving others the chance to step up, to grow, and to be part of something meaningful.

I’m still figuring this out. Some days I get it right, and most days I fall right back into old habits.

But if there’s one thing I’m learning, it’s this: strength isn’t about how much you can carry on your own. Sometimes, real strength is letting others help carry the load.

Maybe that’s what growing looks like.

Not becoming stronger so you can carry more…

But becoming wise enough to know what was never yours to carry in the first place.