Freemasonry's key lesson—how to balance and prioritize life's obligations—is of special importance to young men with families.

When one is lucky enough to have a young man ask about the Masonic Lodge, just what is the appropriate answer? What answer could be given instantly to initiate a request for a petition?

Before a clear answer can be arrived at, let's review a few facts. The Blue Lodge has three Degrees, and the Scottish Rite an additional 29 Degrees, for a total of 32 Degrees. Each one portrays a valuable moral lesson about a man's proper conduct in life. Out of all of these lessons, which is most important? I should think some weigh heavier than others, such as charity and brotherly love, but it seems to me that, with so many good lessons to choose from, the overall object of all the Degrees might just be the concept of balance.

The central point of Masonry, as I see it, is to maintain a proper balance in life between God, family, fellow Brothers of the Craft, and our fellow human beings. The mixture of virtues taught in the Degrees to obtain this balance is different for each Mason, but the result should be the same.

From the perspective of a young man navigating the job market, switching jobs after corporate downsizing, working over 60 hours a week with his wife working a full-time job, managing children's school and athletic functions, and ending up at the end of the month with very little money to show for it all—a high premium should be placed on a means of accomplishing all of these obligations. Gone are the days of eight hours for service, eight for a vocation, and eight for rest. Today's world is more like 22 hours for work, one hour for family, and one hour for sleep. This fact can be very stressful and damaging to a young man and his family.

To survive this onslaught, a man needs to understand the concept of balance by using moral lessons to prioritize his life. For a Scottish Rite Mason, these lessons can come from our Degrees, and, if fostered properly, they contribute to a life in true equilibrium.

When a man, especially a young man, initially inquires about the Lodge, save the lofty rhetoric of ancient craftsmen building great edifices and focus on what Freemasonry really teaches—sustaining a moral balance and prioritizing life's often conflicting needs. As a young man myself, I can assure you the thought of having an effective way to deal with life within a friendly, brotherly environment is much more enticing than a history lesson.

R. Nick Remy was raised a Master Mason in September 1998 in Blocher Lodge No. 247, Booneville, Arkansas, and became a Scottish Rite Mason in October 1998, receiving his Degrees by communication in the Western Arkansas Consistory of Ft. Smith, Arkansas. He is a member of the Amrita Grotto of Ft. Smith; the Ft. Smith Shrine Club of Scimitar Temple; and Booneville Chapter No. 110 R.A.M. in Booneville. A member of the Booneville Rotary Club, he works for his family's L.P. gas business in Booneville, and his wife of three years, Jennifer, is a Licensed Practical Nurse for an eye clinic in Ft. Smith, Arkansas.