Say, “I Don’t Know.”

There can be a quiet pressure that comes with experience.

The longer we’ve been doing something, the more people expect us to know.

A Brother asks a question.

We think we remember the answer.

We’ve heard something about it before.

And sometimes it is tempting to give the best answer we have rather than admit three simple words:

“I don’t know.”

I get those calls myself.

And there are times when my answer is:

“I don’t know. Let’s find out together.”

Then I begin looking.

Sometimes I open a book. Sometimes I go back to the source. And sometimes I call a Brother who knows more about that particular subject than I do.

There is no embarrassment in that.

In fact, perhaps experience should teach us something important:

The more we learn, the more comfortable we should become recognizing the limits of what we know.

A wise man doesn’t need to have every answer.

He needs enough humility to admit when he doesn’t—and enough curiosity to go looking for it.

And one of the blessings of Brotherhood is that we don’t always have to look alone.

Today’s Work: When you’re asked something today that you cannot confidently answer, don’t guess. Say, “I don’t know. Let’s find out together.” Then go find out.

Masonry works when it’s done daily.

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