THE FOUR “C’s”

Presented by VWB Jim Mendoza on May 20, 2006

I am always inspired when I go to Disneyworld, because I am reminded that at one time it was worthless swampland. It became Disneyworld because Walt Disney, and those who would follow him, believed in his dreams.

Walt Disney said, “Somehow I can't believe there are any heights that can't be scaled by a man who knows the secrets of making dreams come true. This special secret,” Walt said, “can be summarized in four Cs. They are Curiosity, Confidence, Courage, and Constancy, and the greatest of all is Confidence. When you believe in a thing, you must believe in it all the way.”

Confidence was a major issue in Walt’s life, because he met failure early and often. Yet, his belief in the four Cs helped him realize his dreams.

The word “confidence” bleeds at the seams—it can easily become “self-confidence.” But confidence and self-confidence are not the same; they are not even cousins. I am generally most confident of a truth that has proven my own ideas wrong. My shortcomings are the best proof of a truth’s veracity. Why? Because it is the one proof I am most reluctant to admit. I don’t like being wrong. It is enough to notice, in other words, that Walt Disney exhorted us to believe in “a thing,” not in ourselves. There is a difference.

Walt also extolled the virtues of curiosity, courage, and constancy. Put another way, it takes courage to constantly be curious – and this can lead to great things.

Our founding fathers possessed the confidence and the courage to be constantly curious in enough measure to pursue the vision of creating a more perfect union, by establishing a new form of government rather than fixing a broken government. I have come to know Grand Masters who possess the confidence and the courage to be constantly curious in enough measure to present to the brethren ideas that they believe will better a fraternity that many already believe is perfect. I also know very special group of brethren who possess the confidence and the courage to be constantly curious in enough measure to embrace the idea of celebrating Filipino-American Freemasonry within the setting of a new Masonic Lodge – despite strong reservations from unexpected sources.

By having the courage to be constantly curious, we are able to see tomorrow; we are able to shape the future, we are able, as Walt Disney would say, to set our course to “the second star to the right, straight on till morning.”

But remember this caveat: Dreams coming true express the right idea—assuming our dreams are in harmony with our beliefs. When our dreams are the product of overwrought ambition or the idle wishes of a selfish will, they may come true, but they will soon prove to be nightmares. But when we dream the dreams of the Spirit, “what visions we will see; what prophesies we will herald; what dreams may come . . . nay, will come true.”

Posted 11/11/2006