FN’s Report – Nov 13th, 2011.

Worthy Sirs:

A Capable Wife, who can find her? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life…Give her a share in the fruits of her hands, and let her works praise her in the city gates.

Wow! What wisdom from today’s first reading, from the book of Proverbs, Chapter 31.

A Faithful Navigator’s task, is to steer his assembly upon the right path. But who steers the Faithful Navigator? Well, the obvious answer would be…the Good Lord Himself. But oftentimes I wonder if he’s working through my dear wife.

When I told Jessica that I was about to become the FN of this assembly, she said: Mark, Mark, what have you gotten me into. You see, she’s already involved in the Executive in CWL, is in the school education committee, does children’s liturgy and is the mother of three young and demanding children. She also pointed out that with the meetings now in St. Joseph’s Port Moody, we’d be going the 15k journey from Pitt Meadows 4 times on every 2nd Sunday…a total of 60 km of driving. Always the voice of reason.

Still, when it became apparent that it was inevitable,  she took to the Ladies’ Programme with gusto! I hear that the wives that do attend are very pleased and enjoy their Sunday afternoons very much! My only hope is that more wives attend or at least push their husbands to attend the general meeting as well!

On that note, I would like to talk about a short chat that I had with a 3rd degree member on Remembrance Day. This man is, by all accounts, an excellent Knight. But when I asked him if he considered joining the 4th degree, he gave me a strange look and said: I think the 4th degree is bad for the 3rd degree. He took great pains to point out that this was just his personal opinion, but he was adamant that the 4th affected the 3rd in a negative way.

Well, suffice to say, I was surprised. However, I had some facts on my side. I pointed out, that at the last State Convention, it was revealed that a man was more likely to STAY being a Knight, if he was a member of the 4th degree. This was not hearsay, or anecdotal observation, but a provable fact, as gleaned from the statistical evidence that is available to the Supreme Office of the KOC. I was there, and heard it from the Worthy Supreme Master himself, Dennis Stoddart, PSD.

One can only hope that this member changes his mind and does indeed join the ranks of the 4th degree as well. I have to take my hat off to him though…as on that cold and extremely soggy Friday morning of the 11th day of the 11th month, this brother Knights was standing shoulder to shoulder with his brothers of the 4th degree, braving the cold and wet, to pay tribute to those who fell for us, that we may have the freedoms we enjoy today. As the worthy District Marshall said to me (and I have to quote this verbatim for maximum impact): What’s wrong with a little rain? Its nothing compared to those whose last moments in life were spent up to their ass in cold mud and water…for us. Could we not make a little sacrifice and march together, as brother Knights to show solidarity with those brave men and women? Well, that’s probably not what he said, but its what I can remember of what he said.

Nevertheless, I am very glad that I made it out to Port Coquitlam on Friday to march with my brother Knights of the 3rd and 4th degree. Apart from the fact that we identified ourselves as a Faith Group, I believe we also made a visible impact to the community at large. That is, after all, what in the 4th are about.  Vivat Jesus!

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