Address of R.W. Bro. Hermann Waxl
on His Official Visit to Muskoka Lodge No. 360, Mar. 7, 2000

The Power Is Within Ourselves

The great author Leo Tolstoy once said, "Everybody thinks of changing humanity and nobody thinks of changing himself." As we look at our lives, we are often not pleased with where we are or where it appears we are headed. Our tendency is to blame our situation on  others or on circumstances over which we have no control. Much of our attention is focused outwards: if only our spouses would be more sensitive to our needs; if only our children would follow our rules; if only our bosses would be more appreciative of our efforts ... then we could really accomplish something.

This kind of thinking is detrimental to our lives, for when we constantly blame other people or outside situations for what is happening to us, we do nothing ourselves to change it! Like a pendulum endlessly swinging back and forth, or a lone rock resting on a mountainside, we continue to act and exist in the same pattern.

This brings to mind the concept of inertia. According to Webster's Dictionary, "inertia" is the tendency of a body to remain at rest or stay in motion unless acted on by and external force. This means that if something is moving, it will keep moving unless something else acts on it to slow it down or stop it, and that if something is standing still, it will continue to stand still unless something else causes it to move.

The pendulum, for example, constantly sways back and forth, back and forth, suspended in the same area of space unless something acts on it to change it. And the rock on the mountain? It will be perfectly happy to remain right where it is for eons at a time, under the same evergreen tree, beside the same creek, crawled over by the same insects, brushed by the same weeds - unless it is acted upon - unless a rockslide drags it off its spot, unless a hiker pushes it forward with his foot, unless a child picks it up and throws it, unless the rain gradually wears it away until there is nothing left but dirt and dust on the mountain's surface. This is truly a powerless existence.

As human beings, however, we are not powerless like the pendulum or the rock. We are not inert objects. We are not powerless. We do not have to waif for external forces to change us. In fact, outside forces cannot change who we are. Unfortunately, even though we may not like what we are doing or what is happening in our lives, instead of using our power to change, we usually stay in the same old ruts we have created which we call "comfort zones."

There is a very real tendency in all of us to keep doing what we've been doing and therefore we keep getting what we've been getting. That's wonderful when we are enjoying what is happening in our lives. It is tragic if we are not happy with what we've been getting from life.

So, what can we do? We must motivate ourselves!

The concept that someone else can motivate us is a great fallacy. Any change that must happen must happen inside us. That change must be initiated by ourselves. We must choose to take action, rather than wait to be acted upon! Only when we realize that, will we be able to make the changes in our lives that will bring us the joy and satisfaction of accomplishment and achievement.

Any change is always challenging and often difficult and scary. But it is also most always necessary in order to reach our goals and make our dreams come true. And when we pass through change, we will look back to find that we have grown, and that we have been rewarded for our efforts. Maybe we achieved the career move we were trying for. Maybe we replaced our old Junker with a new car. Maybe we paid off a child's collage tuition. Or maybe not. But always we emerge from change with a stronger sense of who we are and what we can accomplish, and we feel better prepared to try again.

What is exciting is that we do not have to wait for some monumental occasion to take the first step. We can choose to begin changing ourselves and the course of our lives at this very moment.

It is my hope that all of us will take time out to evaluate who we are on the inside and how our lives are going. We can't change anyone else. We can change ourselves. If we don't like wht we are doing or if we recognize areas that we need to improve, we can make the commitment to ourselves or even to our loved ones to change

It may be difficult. We may never be perfect at it. But imagine, we have been given a life, of our own, with which we can do anything we want. And therein lies our true power!

Therefore, if we begin today, if we continue to try, we will get better at it - and that will be a change.

Thank you.

R.W.Bro. Hermann Waxl, DDGM