I remember the times when, as a young boy, I rode my bicycle. My brothers and I were going up and down some fairly steep hills. My older brother said we should coast downhill, and he was surprised when we insisted on peddling. We wanted to take advantage of downhill momentum so that we could get over the next hills all the faster.

It was only after our ride that I remembered what I had learned from my mother. She, like my father, was born and raised in Italy. Like my dad, Mom developed certain convictions she believed in and taught every chance she had. She told us the importance of self-reliance, self-respect, and self-discipline. It was her opinion that, if we grew up with these traits, there would never be a hill in life we could not conquer.

She inspired us to be good human beings and to treat people as we would want them to treat us. She instilled in us the concept of never taking anything for granted, especially life. To Mom, life was a gift to treasure and never abuse.

Mom loved life and people. She required every moment to be special, and when you did something for her, she always took the time to write or say, "Thank you." To Mom, peddling up the hill was far more rewarding than coasting down it. For, as you peddle up, it is impossible not to concentrate on what is before you and to value it correctly. Coasting weakens focus; peddling strengthens it.

Mom would have made a great Mason since we, as Masons, are expected to adhere to a specific set of standards, as she did. These ideals are designed to help us get up and over every hill we encounter either in life or ourselves, and we have the aid of our Brethren in meeting these challenges. A starting point is the Lodge. The next "hill" is the Temple. So get to your Lodge and keep "peddling." You, your Lodge, the Rite, and all of Freemasonry will be better for the effort. Don't miss the opportunities these "hills" offer. Masonic membership, like life, is a gift to be treasured—and used.