There are so many ways a man becomes a Freemason. To cite them would be about as clear as the calculation for Pi.  Why? The science of craft masonry is difficult to define. Every single piece of defining 'hard-evidence' is open to analysis.  Even the most intellectual analysis does not capture the feeling of masonry.  It gives us reason to extol and encourage one another. It defines our community so inclusively that every stranger, every culture, every faith, every calamity is encompassed within the framework. Nothing is shouldered out of the way.  But if you woke from a deep sleep expecting uniformity, you would likely be very surprised with what you saw.  Groups of men connect with masonry as a charity, a service club with life altering obligations. You would find an open university where tolerance is a given.  While the tip of intellectual activity carries out a calculus, the body, conservative by nature, is not thrilled by philosophical proofs alone.  No imagine would do it justice. The way freemasonry is best captured, is in the mind. A community able to discern expectations from reality, shifts the definition of success.  Striving is not a measure of success. In fact, the journey may be more important or as important as reaching the destination. Nostalgia and wishful thinking hasn't made us immune to the four seasons of a life. As we age, some aspects worthy of our on-going attention are preserved.  Longevity is measured in centuries. Yes, it is a stiff litmus test, but it teaches us so much about the blend of imagination and skills needed to maintain a course.  Hindsight teaches us what we need to pass along to the next generation and all this is apart from the spread and stability of interest.  We all realize we are mortal but that does not mean we embrace the moment without struggling to say goodbye. Life is fleeting, and masonry is an amazing path.