Relief comes in all forms, shapes and sizes.
What would it be like to have to care for someone 24 hours a day? To subjugate your every waking minute and personal desires to taking care of your child, brother, or sister? Many of us are blessed in that we do not have this as one of our duties, but some are not so fortunate.
This brings me to the subject matter; the 2010 special children outing. As the Brethren of YL#20 are aware, every year Brother Ramon San Agustin and WB Ray Prospero team up with Mr. Yamada from SRF to organize a children’s BBQ on the base. This is aimed at the special needs children and their care providers (usually parents or siblings). When I was first petitioning my mother lodge and attended my first YMCA outing (as we call it in short hand) I wondered why there were more adults (care providers) than actual children. Come the second one I attended I asked the WM Mike Carreon, and one of the PM’s WB Don Zamora why this was so, and this was their answer. Imagine never having a day off, fated from the birth of your child, or sibling to never be able to relax…this day is as much for them, as the children, here they can relax, for one day we can help watch them also and give them a short break. Their lesson to me was short, but lasting: Masonic Charity did not always have to mean cash, or charitable items donated, but could equally be just time spent in an endeavor like this one…. Oh I had no doubt considered this before, but had never had the lesson driven home with the impact that it had that day, I then looked at the care providers in a different light…..I noticed wan expressions of relief, the ability to relax their guard and take a short breather while the kids spent time with the Brethren. The lesson WB’s Mike and Don gave me that day…..Relief comes in all forms, shapes and sizes, just as the trials and tribulations do……
Sincerely and Fraternally Bro. Ken Morgan
