2023-12 The Scout Handshake

As we start on the trail of scouting, Requirement number 1 of the Scout Rank has us learning and explaining how and when to use the Scout Handshake.  The Scout Handbook says the following,” Extend your left hand to another Scout and firmly grasp them by the left hand. Made with the hand nearest to your heart, the Scout Handshake signifies friendship.”  We use the right-hand shake when greeting others outside of scouting. 

A young scout back in 1929 asked Daniel Carter Beard the question of “why do we use the left hand shake when greeting fellow scouts.” Here is Uncle Dan’s response, “By agreement of the Scout Leaders throughout the world, Boy Scouts greet Brother Scouts with a left-hand clasp. This means of greeting is also used in connection with all Scout gatherings. It is intended to have this different method serve to remind Scouts that they belong to a world-wide brotherhood and that everywhere throughout the world Scouts are following this method of extending greetings as evidence of their interest in Scouts in all parts of the world.” Pretty much the answer was; because that’s how it’s done within scouting around the world.

The story that has been passed down through time tells us the following.

“The left handshake comes to us from the Ashanti warriors whom Lord Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting, knew years ago in West Africa. He saluted them with his right hand, but the Ashanti chiefs offered their left hands and said, ‘In our land only the bravest of the brave shake hands with the left hand, because to do so we must drop our shields and our protection.’

“The Ashanti knew of Baden-Powell’s bravery for they had fought against him and with him, and were proud to offer him the left hand of bravery.”

The Scout Handshake symbolizes respect, courage, and friendship. This kind of sounds like some points of the Scout Law right?  Soon it will be time for week-long scout camps and jamborees where we may need to muster up some bravery to talk with new people we have never met.  Start by offering your left hand and introducing yourself as you create friendships within your scouting adventures.

2023-01 Difficult Roads

Today we say hello to the very first day of the year 2023. For the past 2 years, rather than displaying ads for items that are on sale, our local grocery store has placed inspirational messages on the signs along the outside of the building. Yesterday as I pulled to get some last minute items for our New Year's Eve celebration, I read the following. “ Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations.” I kept thinking about this sentence as I was walking through the isles and some of the beautiful destinations that I personally have explored this past couple of years.

Sequoia National Park comes to mind as the road to reach the park is one that will push your vehicle to its limits with the steep and windy road. But hugging one of those massive redwoods after enduring the long hard road is totally worth it.

Timpanogos Caves inside Mt. Timpanogos is another one that comes to mind. Even though the hike up to the cave is only 2.5 miles, it is a hike that will push your body to its limits. After you reach the cave opening, and catch your breath for about 20 minutes so your heart doesn’t jump out of your chest, the beauties of all the stalagmites and stalactites along with the Heart of Timpanogos will take your breath away again.

Ruth Lake is another hidden gem that we discovered inside the Uinta National Forest along the Mirror Lake Hwy. The elevation is pretty high up there which brings its own challenges with breathing, headaches, and fatigue and the trail is constantly up and down throughout the 3 mile round trip. But the blue high elevation lake is one that brought me one of my most relaxing days I have had in a long time as I took a nap in the hammock alongside its shore line.

These are all great destinations, and there are many more that I could talk about. But, my mind started thinking about some of the destinations that I have reached that are not necessarily found on a map. These are items that I have personally accomplished that may have been difficult to endure through. I think my son would have one of his personal destinations be planning and completing his Eagle Project.

New Years is one of those great times of the year that we can reflect on how we are personally doing, what we should be doing better, and some of the items we would like to complete on our bucket list. It’s a time for resolutions and goal setting. I personally do not have New Years resolutions, but I do set some goals that I would like to accomplish for myself personally along with some goals I would like to accomplish with my family.

These past couple of years have been very difficult for many people. Emotionally, physically, and mentally. I personally had the difficult time of losing my father in October of 2021. My kids would probably say that their school year this last year was really difficult. Difficult roads will always be part of our life. Whatever your difficult roads have been, take some time to reflect on how you are the person that you are now because of the experiences you have been through. Reflect on some of those amazing places that you have hiked to or camped at that were off the beaten path. Each difficult road that we endure through makes us a little more Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent.

2022-09 Trustworthy Steeplejacks

Two steeplejacks in England named Lewis and Jenkins, were mending a weather vane on a high steeple, 180 feet above the ground. To anchor the vane, melted lead had to be poured into its socket.

The scaffolding from which the men were working was not high enough to reach the socket, so Lewis climbed up on Jenkins’ shoulders. As he stood there, pouring the molten lead, a sudden gust of wind scattered a shower of the fiery liquid over Jenkins’ bare arms.

The slightest move on Jenkins' part would have sent his companion spinning to his death, 180 feet below. Jenkins set his teeth, and stood without a move until Lewis had completed the job and descended.

For the rest of his days, Jenkins had burn scars. Almost like bracelets on both arms.

Some days we are like Jenkins. We have others that rely on us to be dependable and accurate. You’ll find in the workplace that there are many people who are like Jenkins. Granted, we are not standing 180 feet in the air with a fellow employee on our shoulders pouring melted lead… but some of us may be pulling extra hours to complete a group project or to meet a deadline for a quarterly report.

Some days we are like Lewis. We have so much faith and trust in others that we will stand on their shoulders 180 feet up in the air to get the job done, because we know that they have our backs and will not let us down.

Whether you are like Lewis, or like Jenkins, both are great examples of how to live and practice the scout oath and law. Guaranteed there was a lot of Trustworthy going on as the two of them completed the job. Let us continue to do our part as we help other people while being Trustworthy, Loyal, and Brave.

2021-21 The Emperor's Seeds

The emperor was old and dying. He had no children of his own so he called all the children in the surrounding villages to the castle.

He said, "It has come time for me to choose the next emperor. I have decided to choose one of you." The kids were shocked! But the emperor continued. "I am going to give each one of you a seed today. One seed. It is a very special seed. I want you to go home, plant the seed, water it and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from this one seed. I will then judge the plants that you bring to me, and the one I choose will be the next emperor of the kingdom!"

One boy named Ling, like the others, received a seed. He went home and excitedly told his mother the whole story. She helped him get a pot and some planting soil, and he planted the seed and watered it carefully. Every day he would water it and watch to see if it had grown.

After about three weeks, some of the other youths began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow. Ling kept going home and checking his seed, but nothing ever grew. Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks went by. Still nothing.

By now others were talking about their plants but Ling didn't have a plant, and he felt like a failure. Six months went by, still nothing in Ling's pot. Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing. Ling didn't say anything to his friends, however. He just kept waiting for his seed to grow.

A year finally went by and all the youths of the kingdom brought their plants to the emperor. Ling told his mother that he wasn't going to take an empty pot. But she encouraged him to go, and to take his pot as his emperor had told him. Ling felt sick to his stomach, but he knew his mother was right. He took his empty pot to the palace.

When Ling arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by all the other youths. They were beautiful, in all shapes and sizes. Ling put his empty pot on the floor and many of the other kinds laughed at him. A few felt sorry for him and just said, "Hey, nice try."

When the emperor arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted the young people. Ling just tried to hide in the back. After looking over all the pots in the room, the emperor said, "My, what great plants, trees and flowers you have grown. Today, one of you will become emperor!"

"But, first, I see one pot has no plant. Whoever owns that pot, bring it here to the front immediately!"

Ling was terrified. "The emperor knows I'm a failure! Maybe he will have me killed!" But, being brave, Ling picked up his pot and approached the emperor.

When Ling got to the front, the kids were laughing and making fun of him. The emperor looked at Ling, and then announced to the crowd, "Behold your new emperor!" Ling couldn't believe it. Ling couldn't even grow his seed. How could he be the new emperor?

Then the emperor said, "One year ago today, I gave everyone here a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to me today. But I gave you all boiled seeds which would not grow. All of you, except Ling, have brought me trees and plants and flowers. When you found that the seed would not grown, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Ling was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new emperor!"

Let us all have the integrity as young Ling as strive to be a little more Loyal, Obedient, and Brave.