2023-08 Angels Landing

This weekend we are exploring Zion National Park which is 1 of the 5 National Parks located in Utah. For the past 4 years we have made it a tradition to visit Zion. This year was the first that we experienced the park with snow and frigid temperatures.  Naturally our major hiking day, Friday, was the coldest day of the trip.  But we were not about to let that ruin the day.  Day one we hiked 10 miles which included an attempt to reach the top of Angels Landing.

Now, let's be very clear about the Angels Landing hike.  This hike has never been on my bucket list as I have no desire at all to dangle my body over a 1,500 foot drop off while holding onto some chains. With that in mind, we started to ascend the Angels Landing trail.

A little history about Angels Landing: A century ago a Methodist minister named Frederick Vining Fisher was so in awe of this massive sandstone cliff that he made the comment that only angels might land on it.  So the name stuck and what used to be known as the Temple of Aeolus was renamed Angels Landing.  The trail was built in the 1920’s and is 5 miles round trip. As you get closer to the top, you reach a section of the trail that is called Walter’s Wiggles. The wiggles are named after Walter Ruesch who was the park’s first acting superintendent. This section is made up of 21 extremely tight switchbacks that eventually put you at Scout Lookout. Angels Landing is one of the most dangerous hikes in the United States as there have been 17 confirmed deaths from individuals falling. 12 of those deaths happened between 1908 to 2016. With all this information to scare me to death alone… we kept on hiking.

As we reached Walter’s Wiggles we ran into an obstacle we had not planned for.  Ice and snow on the trail. We were in need of traction devices to continue on the trail safely.  So, half of the group turned around and started back down the trail as the other half of the group continued on using extra caution on the switchbacks.  Guess who was in the group to continue up… that’s right… me.  The switchbacks were a challenge with the slick conditions but manageable going up. Then the thought popped into my head… this is going to be a whole lot harder coming back down. Which it was. A couple of times we had to slide down the mountain on our backsides.

Finally we reached the end of Walter’s Wiggles and there is a section right before you start on the chain section of Angels Landing that is called Scout Lookout.  At this point, you have an amazing view of the valley as you stand at 5,790’ of elevation with the remaining .5 mile hike up to the end of Angels Landing ahead of you.  As we did not have traction devices for our shoes, the decision was made to have this be our stopping point and we took it all in.

Standing at Scout Lookout, your breath is not only taken away by the 1,500’ elevation gain that you just hiked, but also by the view of the canyon all around you with the Virgin River down below. As I was standing there taking it all in, reflections of my own personal growth and accomplishments came to mind. Reflections also of family members who have come and also left this Earth and all of their accomplishments. Along the trail there are multiple waypoints starting with the Trailhead and then Refrigerator Canyon, Walter’s Wiggles, Scout Lookout, The Spine, and eventually the Summit of Angels Landing.  The same can be compared with our trails within Cub Scouts and Scouts BSA as we work from Bobcat to Lion, Wolf, Bear, Webelos, and eventually Arrow of light. From Scout to Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life, and finishing with Eagle.  

Each one of us are at different stages along the trail.  Some of us have to be pushed along the trail sometimes. Some of us reach a stopping point before we reach the summit. This is the case with my Father.  As a youth, my father reached the rank of Star. During those years as a youth he was a staff member at Camp Mitigwa in Iowa and loved every minute of being a scout. He was an amazing scout and later Scoutmaster, Cubmaster, District Leader, and many other hats that he wore. It’s with this example that I would argue that the rank does not make the scout, rather the experiences and growth in character along the trail. The rank is only a reflection of what we personally have accomplished through our physical, mental, and moral challenges along the hike.

Let us all continue practicing the Cub Scout Motto, To Do Our Best, no matter where we are on the trail of scouting.

2022-28 Don't Try, But Do

There is a good story about General Taylor, who became famous during the Mexican-American war during the 1840's. The victory was in the balance, and a certain battery was turning the scale against the Republic. General Taylor called the cavalry commander and said, "Take that battery!" The officer answered, "We will try, sir" "I don't want you to try, sir; I want you to take it." snarled the general. "We will take it, or die!" replied the young officer. "I don't want you to die," bellowed the general. "I want you to take that battery."

There is a lesson there. The business world is looking for men of action - not the martyrs or experimenters, but for men who crystallize thought into action - for men who bring things to pass.

Some of you may be thinking to yourself... this phrase sounds familiar from somewhere else. In Episode V, The Empire Strikes Back, Master Yoda has some of the same advise for young Luke. Luke is attempting get his X-wing out of the swamp and lacks the faith that he can use the force to do so. After his pep talk from Yoda, Luke make the comment, “alright, I’ll give it a try.” Yoda is very quick to put young Luke in his place and replies with, “No! Try not! Do or do not. There is no try.”

Let us practices the Cub Scout Motto each day and Do our Best.

2022-25 Which One Do You Feed

In 2018 I shared this scouter’s minute back before I was doing this podcast. This one is entitled, “which one do you feed”. Also, with it being father’s day, this one seems very fitting for all those fathers and father figures. We wish you a very happy day today.

There once was an old Indian. His little grandson often came in the evenings to sit at his knee and ask the many questions that children ask. One day the grandson came to his grandfather with a look of anger on his face.

Grandfather said, "Come, sit, tell me what has happened today."

The child sat and leaned his chin on his Grandfather's knee. Looking up into the wrinkled face and the kind dark eyes, the child's anger turned to quiet tears.

The boy said, "I went to the town today with my father, to trade the furs he has collected over the past several months. I was happy to go, because father said that since I had helped him with the trapping, I could get something for me. Something that I wanted.

I was so excited to be in the trading post. I have not been there before. I looked at many things and finally found a metal knife! It was small, but good size for me, so father got it for me."

Here the boy laid his head against his grandfather's knee and became silent. The Grandfather, softly placed his hand on the boy's raven hair and said, "And then what happened?". Without lifting his head, the boy said, "I went outside to wait for father, and to admire my new knife in the sunlight. Some town boys came by and saw me, they got all around me and started saying bad things.

They called me dirty and stupid and said that I should not have such a fine knife. The largest of these boys, pushed me back and I fell over one of the other boys. I dropped my knife and one of them snatched it up and they all ran away, laughing."

Here the boy's anger returned, "I hate them, I hate them all!"

The Grandfather, with eyes that had seen too much, lifted his grandson's face so his eyes looked into the boy's. Grandfather said, "Let me tell you a story."

"I too, at times, have felt a great hate for those that have taken so much, with no sorrow for what they do.

But hate wears you down, and does not hurt your enemy. It is like taking poison and wishing your enemy would die. I have struggled with these feelings many times. It is as if there are two wolves inside me, one is white and one is black. The White Wolf is good and does no harm. He lives in harmony with all around him and does not take offense when no offense was intended. He will only fight when it is right to do so, and in the right way.

But the Black Wolf is full of anger. The littlest thing will set him into a fit of temper. He fights everyone, all the time, for no reason. He cannot think because his anger and hate are so great. It is helpless anger, for his anger will change nothing. Sometimes it is hard to live with these two wolves inside me, for both of them seek to dominate my spirit."

The boy, looked intently into his Grandfather's eyes, and asked, "Which one wins Grandfather?"

The Grandfather, smiled and said, "The one I feed."

All of us have these two types of wolves inside of us. Let us all do our best to feed the wolf that will bring us happiness, peace, and joy.

2022-10 Hold On Tight

A couple of weeks ago we were hiking along the Emerald Pools Trail in Zion National Park. This hike is one of my favorites as it takes you along the Virgin River where Mount Zion and Castle Dome meet together offering you breathtaking sceneries and amazing viewpoints. As you can guess from the name of the trail, there are some pools of water involved along the way. Upper Emerald Pool feeds into the Middle and then Lower Emerald Pool. The green vegetation against the red rock and waterfalls is amazing.

Along the trail from the Zion Lodge towards Lower Emerald Pool, something caught our eye. A large pine tree that looked like it was holding onto the side of the mountain. The roots for this tree are mostly exposed and shoot almost entirely horizontale into the mountain. Entangled within the root system is a massive boulder that has turned into an anchor for this tree. You can tell from just looking at this tree that water erosion is the culprit. This tree is doing everything it possibly can to be straight, tall, and strong. And it’s doing an amazing job!

As we go through life, sometimes erosion takes some of our personal foundations out from under us. Maybe you or someone you know has been diagnosed with an illness… sometimes we have disasters hit our neighborhoods… Recently our family lost an amazing father and grandfather. As we go through hard times, find something to hold on tight to. This could be your family members, your scout pack or troop, your neighbors, community, and religion. Whatever your anchor is, always hold on tight to it. In the case of our tree in Zion National Park, it continues to hold on tight to the mountain side. Even though it's going through a challenging time, it still continues to grow and stretch its branches towards the sunlight. As we go through our own challenging times, let us be like this giant pine that is continually doing it’s best.

2022-07 God's Fiddle

The month of February we are continuing on with our Reverent theme.

A story is told of a conversation between a businessman and Sir Harry Lauder, the famous Scottish comedian, at a recent dinner held in New York. “I want to thank you for all the happiness you have given me, Sir Harry,” the man remarked. “I have looked forward to your American performances as one of the real joys of my life.” Harry Lauder without any thought of jesting responded, “don't thank me, laddie. God put something into me that seems to give pleasure to many thousands of people”, he said. “What it is I don't know, nor where it came from, nor when it may go. I don't seem to control it; it seems to control me. Thank It, Whatever It Is-not me.

John Bunyan, when congratulated on one of his sermons, uttered Harry Lauder's protest in different words. I am only God's fiddle! The instrument on which he elected to play His tunes.”

Is it not well for us to pause in the midst of our tasks and success to pay homage to our Maker? We, too, are “God's fiddle”, even though we are so often out of tune with God's infinite plan.

This time of year we have many events for entertainment. We have the Super Bowl, which is today. Many award shows are this month, and the Winter Olympics are currently taking place. Many of these athletes and performers bring happiness and enjoyment into our lives as they entertain us on the screen or at live events. Yes, many of them have worked extremely hard to get to the spot they are in in their life to receive an award or take home a super bowl ring, or a Gold, Silver, or Bronze metal. It always brings a smile to me when you hear these entertainers thank their friends, families, and their God for their accomplishments. Remember, you never really do anything on your own. You usually have your support group, this could be your den, pack, patrol, or troop, leaders, family, teachers, coaches, etc. And most importantly, you have your Creator who always has your back. Let us always do our best to be an “in tune” fiddle for Him.

2021-31 Jim Thorpe

With the second week of the Tokyo Olympics in full swing, I’m going to share with you a story from the 1912 Olympics involving a Native American Indian named Jim Thorpe.

Jim’s early years where a little rough. As a member of the Sac and Fox Nation, in 1887 he was born in Indian Territory in what is now known as Oklahoma. The children of these tribes were separated from their parents an taught to forget their heritage and to be more Anglo-American. His original name of Wa-Tho-Huk translated into English is “Bright Path”, and Jim did have a bright path ahead of him. As a youth he attended Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where he was a two-time All-American for the school’s football team under coach Pop Warner. Some of you who play football may recognize Pop Warner’s name… that’s a whole other story.

Jim went on to participate in the pentathlon and decathlon at the 1912 Olympics held at Stockolm, Sweden. On the morning of his events, Jim discovered that he could not find his shoes. It’s speculated that they were stolen from him the evening before. Luckily, a team-mate found an extra right shoe and Jim found a left shoe in the garbage can. The left shoe was too big for his feet, so Jim improvised and wore extra socks to make it fit. While wearing these shoes, Jim won two gold medals that day.

When presented the challenge of not having shoes to compete in his events, Jim had two options. Quit… or figure out a solution to the problem. We are given the same options every day. If your own shoes have been stolen, if your health is not the best, if your having relationship or family troubles, don’t let it stop you from running your race. To quote Robert Anthony, “You can only have two things in life, reasons and results. Reasons don’t count.”

After his experience at the Olympics, Jim went on to be one of the best athletes in the nation. Playing baseball for the Cleveland Indians and Football for the New York Giants, He was eventually inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame along with the College Football Hall of Fame.

From our beginning days as a Cub Scout, we learn the Cub Scout moto: “Do Your Best”. When we become a Webelo we start to learn about the Scout motto of “Be Prepared”. When combined, these two mottos work very well together. We can be prepared for the hard and challenging times, and when they arise, we can do our very best through them. Let us all strive to have the same attitude as Jim Thorpe had back in 1912 Olympics when the next hardship or challenge presents itself to us.

2021-18 I Am Your Father

On January 17th, 1931, A baby boy was born in Mississippi. Early in this boy’s life there were challenges. His father abandoned him and his mother when he was a baby.  He ended up being raised by his grandparents who were farmers in Michigan. When he was a little older it came very apparent that this young boy had a stutter. He even describes his stutter as being severe enough that he would not introduce himself or speak when visitors came to the house. For eight years from the ages of 6 - 14, he was actually a mute and did not speak at all. He attributes this to being the reason why he is such a very good listener.  His stutter is also the very thing that drove him to acting.  In high school, his English teacher would have him stand in front of the class and recite his own poetry to help him overcome his stutter. 

After high school and serving in the Korean War, this young man ventured out to New York to pursue his dream of acting. During this time he worked as a janitor to earn a living. In 1953 his only line in his first roll in the play, Sunrise At Campobello, proved to be difficult as his stutter caused him to not finish his line in front of the live audience as he could not get past the first word that started with the letter M and he quickly exited the stage and the play went on.  Thankfully that experience did not make him stop his dream of acting and to this date his stutter has not occurred on stage or film since. Fun fact, he was the very first celebrity guest on Sesame Street. With one of the most recognizable voices, in 1977 he completed the voice over in only two and a half hours for one of my all time favorite characters, Darth Vader.  Yes, we are talking about the one and only, amazing, James Earl Jones.  

A great quote from James Earl Jones is “One of the hardest things in life is having words in your heart that you can't utter”.

With May the Fourth right around the corner, Star Wars is a big part of my childhood and adult life. I can still remember sitting in the living room of my grandparents watching New Hope, Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi with my uncles in 1980 something. It’s so much fun that with the new series and movies that have come out recently and reliving the prior episodes, I can share my fandom with my kids.  My personal opinion, Darth Vader would not be Darth Vader without the voice of James Earl Jones. 

Each of us have our own, unique set of challenges. That’s just part of life. What defines us is how we react to our challenges we may have. A lot of times it will not be easy, and we may have to pick ourselves up more than once. Just remember the Cub Scout motto to “Do Your Best.”