Have you ever tried t hammer in a bent nail? Even if you straighten it out before you try to reuse it, the nail still bends very easily. Only a new, straight nail will provide the best results. A carpenter beginning a new project always starts with the best materials he can find - nails, tools, and wood. In the hands of a skilled carpenter, these materials will be used to create a beautiful table or a cabinet. Remember the lesson from the carpenter; nothing beautiful can be carved from a rotten piece of wood.

Your character is the material you’re using to build your life. Twenty years from now, you will begin to see the product you are building. The question to ask yourself is this: “Is the wood you’re using now good wood or rotten wood?”

• The Scoutmaster Minute - Ron Wendel