Stop Wasting Your Life Viewing Work This Way

Labour is the Lot of Man

You're holding a gavel in your hand. It's a simple tool, right? Just a small mallet used to shape rough stones. But in the teachings of Freemasonry, this humble implement takes on a profound symbolic meaning. It becomes a powerful reminder of a fundamental truth about the human condition - a truth that, when fully grasped, has the potential to transform our lives and our world.

You see, the phrase "From the Common Gavel we learn that labour is the lot of man" is a deep philosophical statement about the relationship of labour or “work” and the very nature and purpose of human existence.

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For all intents and purposes when I refer to labour, I am referring to work & effort or anything really that we have to do as part of being a human. But really it’s all the same.

Now, I know what some of you might be thinking. "labour? Really? That's the big lesson here? Sounds like a bit of a downer!" And I get it. In our culture, we often view work and effort as a necessary evil at best and a soul-crushing burden at worst. We dream of hitting the lottery or retiring early to finally escape the daily grind and live the good life.

But what if we've got it all wrong?

What if labour, in its deepest sense, is not a curse but a blessing - a sacred opportunity to fulfil our highest calling and potential as human beings?

This is the radical idea at the heart of the lesson of this phrase. And to understand it, we need to dive into some heavy philosophy. But don't worry - I promise to keep things light and relatable along the way. After all, Masonry is all about taking profound truths and making them accessible to you and I, aka, the common man.

First, let's consider the symbolism of the gavel itself.

In operative masonry, this tool is used to shape rough stones into perfect ones - the smooth, square bricks that form the building blocks of any grand and solid structure. But in Freemasonry, the gavel takes on a deeper meaning. It represents the work of shaping our own rough and imperfect selves into living stones fit for the temple of our own individual Creator.

Think about it: each of us starts as a rough stone - a raw piece of material full of potential but also susceptible to flaws and imperfections. But, we're born into this world with a divine spark within us, but also with base appetites, desires, and a tendency to vice and error. The task of life, then, is to chip away at these rough edges, to smooth and square our characters through the labour of self-improvement and service to others.

This is no easy task. It's a lifelong process of trial and error, of setbacks and breakthroughs. It requires patience, persistence, and a willingness to learn from our mistakes. In short, it requires work - hard, sometimes painful, often tedious work. There's no shortcut or easy fix.

But here's the thing: this work is not a punishment or a burden imposed on us by some cruel deity or indifferent universe. On the contrary, it's an opportunity - a chance to fulfil our highest potential and purpose as human beings.

When we engage in the labour of self-improvement - whether through study, prayer, service, or the practice of virtue - we're not just making ourselves better. We're also contributing to the betterment of the world around us. Every act of kindness, every word of truth, every work of beauty that we create through our labours sends ripples of light out into the darkness, helping to build the temple of a more just and loving society.

This is what the great thinkers and spiritual teachers throughout history have understood. From Aristotle's concept of eudaimonia to the Buddhist notion of right livelihood, from the Biblical ideal of grace to the Masonic vision of the brotherhood of man under the fatherhood of God - all these traditions point to the transformative power of human labour when undertaken with wisdom, love, and a sense of higher purpose.

Of course, this doesn't mean that all work is equally noble or that we should accept oppressive or degrading labour conditions. The lesson of the common gavel is not a justification for exploitation or inequality. On the contrary, it's a call to ensure that all people have access to meaningful, dignifying work that allows them to unfold their full potential and contribute to the greater good.

So what does this mean for us as individuals?

How can we apply the lesson of the common gavel in our daily lives and labours?

Well, first and foremost, it means approaching our work - whatever it may be - with a sense of purpose and intentionality. Whether we're craftsmen or scholars, artists or entrepreneurs, parents or public servants - we all have a role to play in shaping the living stones of ourselves and our world. The key is to see our labour not just as a means to an end, but as an end in itself - an opportunity to express our unique gifts and to serve something greater than ourselves.

This isn't always easy, of course. There will be days when the stone seems too hard, the chisel too dull, and the vision of the completed building too distant. There will be times when we're tempted to throw down our tools in frustration or despair.

But it's precisely in these moments that the lesson of the common gavel becomes most vital and vivifying.

For you see, the true Mason is not the one who never faces resistance or setbacks. It's the one who persists through the resistance with patience, skill, and loving devotion to the work. It's the one who keeps chipping away, day by day, trusting that each blow of the gavel, however small, is shaping the rough stone of himself and that of the greater society to which he is a part into a form more beautiful, true, and just.

And here's the great secret - the one that's hidden in plain sight within the lesson of the common gavel. The more we embrace the labour of self-improvement and service, the more we find that it's not a burden but a joy. The more we give ourselves to the work, the more we receive in return - not just in terms of external rewards, but in the deepest, most lasting currency of the soul.

Imagine a fellow Mason who is going through a tough period in his life - dealing with some personal challenges, and feeling stuck and unfulfilled in his job. He is wrestling with what his purpose is, with what he is meant to contribute to the world.

And then one day, as he is participating in a community service project with his lodge, but then it hits him like a bolt of lightning. As he is labouring away, working side by side with his fellows to restore a crumbling wall in a community centre, he suddenly sees the connection between outer labour and inner work. He realises that through the simple act of showing up and doing his part, he is not only making a tangible difference in the world, but he is also shaping his character, chipping away at his rough edges, and becoming more of the man he is meant to be.

From that moment on, he begins to approach all his labours - both in the lodge and in his daily life - with a renewed sense of purpose and enthusiasm. He stops seeing his work as a chore and starts seeing it as a gift - an opportunity to express his highest self in service to the greater good.

And the more he leans into this perspective, the more he finds that doors start opening in ways he never could have imagined. New opportunities for growth and contribution present themselves. Relationships deepen and flourish. The very nature of his life begins to take on a richer meaning and purpose.

Now, this doesn't mean it is all sunshine and rainbows. There are still plenty of challenges along the way. But even during difficulties, he finds that he has a new resilience and sense of perspective. He knows that each trial is just another rough stone to be shaped by the common gavel of his labour, another chance to prove his mettle and his commitment to the Craft.

And slowly but surely, he begins to see the fruits of this labour manifest not just in his own life, but in the lives of those around him. He watches as the ripples of his efforts spread out in ever-widening circles, touching and inspiring others to take up the tools of their self-transformation and service.

This, my friends, is the true secret and meaning of the lesson of the common gavel. It's not just a metaphor or a symbol, but a living, breathing practice - a way of being in the world that has the power to change everything.

So as we go forth from this moment, let us take this lesson to heart. Let us embrace the labour of our lives with renewed dedication and devotion. Let us see each challenge as an opportunity, each setback as a stepping stone, and each day as a sacred gift.

And let us never forget that in the great workshop of life, we are all apprentices and fellows, all rough stones in the process of being shaped by the loving hand of the Master Craftsman. Our task is simply to show up, to do our part, to keep chipping away - trusting that through our labours, we are building not just a better self, but a better world.

This is the great work to which we are called - the labour that is the lot and the love of every human being. May we have the strength, the wisdom, and the heart to answer that call with all that we are and all that we have.