C. Fred Kleinknecht, 33°
Sovereign Grand Commander

During this holiday season, may we, despite the harsh circumstances of the world, find serenity for ourselves and share joy with our fellowmen.

I was surprised the other day to learn that "cheer" doesn't mean "happiness" as I had thought. It actually means any state of mind. One can be of "good cheer" or "heavy cheer" or anywhere in between. In other words, cheer is what you make it.

It is good, during this season, to think about our state of mind, our "cheer." The past year has not been an easy one. We are still reeling from the effects of September 11, 2001. There has been progress regarding our security, but we know we are still open to attack. The economy has not recovered from shocks to the stock market. Some leaders in business and politics have been shown to be men of little or no integrity. News story after story has told of sniper attacks and of children kidnapped and murdered. Much of the year has been of heavy "cheer," indeed.

It is easy to yield to this mood and allow the events of the past year to cast gloom over our thoughts and even our relationships with other people during this holiday season. But that is not what the Scottish Rite teaches. One of my favorite passages in Morals and Dogma starts on page 192. "Man is no bubble upon the sea of his fortunes, helpless and irresponsible upon the tide of events. Out of the same circumstances, different men bring totally different results." And, later on page 193, "Let the Mason never forget that life and the world are what we make them by our social character; by our adaptation, or want of adaptation to the social conditions, relationships, and pursuits of the world."

Pike goes on to remind us that the man who is cold and calculating will find others to be the same, but the man who is kind and trusting will find kindness and trustworthiness in others. This is also the great message of the winter holiday season. We can fear to travel to meet with family and friends; we can lament if we have less to spend on gifts this year; we can look at passers-by on the streets with hooded eyes, suspicious of everyone we meet. We can, if we wish, make the holiday "cheer" almost intolerably heavy.

But we are encouraged, by our faith and by the Scottish Rite, to do otherwise. The holiday season inspires us to remember that love is more powerful than hatred, that the same cowardly attacks which demonstrated the baseness of a few people showed even more the heroism, nobility, compassion, and concern of millions. Each person chooses his attitude, his "cheer." He can choose, if he wishes, hope over despair, courage over fear, love over hatred, joy over melancholy, trust over suspicion, faith over doubt, compassion over contempt. No terrorist can make us live in terror-only we can do that to ourselves.

Here is my hope and wish for you this holiday season. May your holiday cheer be of hope and trust and love. May your hearts sing with gladness and your eyes see the beauty of the world. May family and friends surround you with peace and love. Out of the harsh circumstances of the world, may you find serenity for yourself and bring joy to your fellowman.