2022-12 Don't Get Lost

How many of us have felt lost?

How many of us have been lost before?

Years and years ago, when I was about 6 years old. I was lost. It was Christmas time and Mom and Dad were doing some shopping at the mall. There were 3 of us kids at the time with me being the oldest. And somehow, I lost my family in the crowd. I can’t recall if someone took me to the security office, or if the security officer was the one that found me, but either way, I was lucky that kind people helped me along the way. I do remember sitting at a desk with a typewriter in front of me and typing, “I am lost” over and over. I think my mother still has that piece of paper tucked away in a box somewhere. Eventually I was reunited with my parents. The real scary part of this story was told to me a few years later. Apparently as my parents were trying to get to the security office in the mall to claim me, there were 3 or 4 additional adults that were also trying to claim me as their lost child. One woman was even calling out my name as the security officers mistakenly broadcasted it throughout the mall in the hopes that it would assist my parents in finding me faster. I can only imagine the anxiety and fear that my parents had during this ordeal.

In Cub Scouts we are taught at an early age to use the buddy system. And if you are ever lost, to STOP. Which stands for Stop, Think, Observe, and Plan. As a Cub Scout I was also told to hug a tree and start blowing your whistle that you should have in your essentials bag. As a Scout, we continue to use the buddy system. While hiking it is recommended that scouts hike in buddy groups of at least 4. In the event that one of the members becomes injured and needs help. Two of the members can go run for help together as the other member stays with the injured member. In this scenario, all four have greatly reduced their chances of becoming lost as they are with their buddy.

Sometimes we lose our way. And sometimes we are not just physically lost, but also emotionally. One thing to always remember is that if you are emotionally lost, you are never truly alone. Someone is always thinking about you and cares about you. Those individuals, or emotional buddies, could be family members, friends, neighbors, leaders, and teachers. If you do feel lost, sound off your whistle for help, don’t bottle it up.

Let us all continue to do our best to be buddies for each other as we do our good turn daily, along with helping each other at all times and being kind to each other.

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.

2022-04 I Am A Corporal

The other day I came across this short story entitled “I am a Corporal.”

During the Revolutionary War, the soldiers were trying to raise a heavy timber which they could hardly lift from the ground.  A young corporal stood by, urging the men to lift hard, and shouting, “Now, boys, right up,” when a superior officer rode up, dismounted and lifted with the men. When the timber was in place the officer asked the corporal why he did not help “I am a corporal,” he replied. “I am George Washington,” replied the officer.

As a member of the patrol in your troop, the time may soon be yours when you are a Patrol Leader, Assistant Patrol Leader, or Senior Patrol Leader.  One thing has been proven over the ages is that good leaders lead by example, not by force.   

Leading by example means you're guiding others through your behaviors and inspiring them to do the same as you. When you lead by example, you provide a path to direct others down so that everyone is working toward a common goal with the same purpose.

A leader makes it natural for people to feel like they want to do the best they can for the patrol. When you lead by example, you can accomplish this and have a troop that's full of trust, confidence and purpose.

Eventually, down the trail of life, the leadership skills you learned as a scout can be used when you decide to start a family and lead your children. You can also use your leadership skills in your career when you are an employee or a manager of employees. 

Whatever your leadership status is in life. Always remember to implement the Scout Oath and Scout Law. To help other people at all times and to be trustworthy, loyal, and helpful.

2021-23 Aspens

Located in Utah’s Fishlake National Forest is one of the world’s largest organisms. It’s a 107 acre forest of more than 47,000 genetically identical quaking aspen trees which all stem from a single root system known as Pando.  The name Pando is Latin for “I spread”.  Aspen trees are capable of reproducing by seeds, but most of the time the trees will shoot up spouts from their roots and form a group known as “clones”. This grove of trees is capable of withstanding anything that the elements can throw at them. They can do this because they are tightly bound together in their trunks, limbs, and in their root system. Each tree draws strength from the other.  There is the occasional Aspen that will grow separate from the group, exposed to face the elements alone. Mother nature is not selective of which trees get attacked by the storms.  When the wind blows, the rain comes down, the lone tree has a greater risk of being damaged.  The group of aspens on the other hand, they stand together, strong, and protecting each other as the storm rages on.

Your patrol is a lot like this grove of aspens. The strength and teamwork you can accomplish together would be impossible for you each to do individually. Each one of you brings skills and talents that complements the other members of the patrol and troop.  

2021-22 Scout Spirit

A younger Scout and his family were headed to church one Sunday morning. On their way in, an older man who had trouble walking was struggling to make it to the entrance. The young Scout kindly held open the door for him and his wife.
As the old man passed him, he questioned the boy, "Are you one of those Scouts?"
Surprised by the question, the young boy replied that he was. The old man asked, "So how's that coming for you?"
The Scout replied, "Well, I'm First Class."
Finally, as he managed to reach the entrance of the church, the old man smiled and said, "You keep on working for that Eagle Badge."

The young Scout had never seen this man in his life, never talked to him, yet his Scout Spirit had shown by doing such a simple action as holding the door for an elderly man. Showing Scout Spirit doesn't require a uniform, or patches of any kind. All Scout Spirit needs is an opportunity to help someone in need.

May we continue to due our duty to help other people at all times.

2021-12 Madness Of March

This time of year marks one of my favorite yearly events where 64 of the best college basketball teams match up to participate in the “big dance” known as March Madness. The excitement when your team is selected to be included in the bracket is awesome. When your team loses in the first round… well, that’s a different story. There is so much  emotion involved with players and fans as their hard work culminates to the sound of the buzzer that eventually marks either the end of the road or that your ticket has been punched to the next round. Eventually 64 teams will be narrowed down to 32, then the sweet 16, the elite 8, to the final 4, and finally the championship game where only 1 team will be the final winner.

As these games are played out live on national television and media streams, one thing I always notice is if the players and teams are playing with good sportsmanship.  Eventually you will see an incident where opposing players will get up in each other's faces. I always admire those players and coaches that don’t engage in the jeering from the opposing players or fans.  They simply regroup and get set for the next play. Emotions run high sometimes during sporting events. How you react shows a great deal about your character.

There can be bad sportsmanship shown from both the winning and losing teams.  Rubbing the score in your opponents face when you're winning only hurts you and your team. If you knock someone down as you're both jumping for the ball, help them up as the referees are announcing who fouled who. If you lose, pick yourself up and don’t make excuses. Be the better person. As the Cub Scout motto says, “Do Your Best”.

 A few points of the Scout Law that help us remember to be a good sport could include; Trustworthy, Helpful, Courteous, and Kind. As you personally play sports, be it Basketball, Football, Track, Softball, Baseball, Wrestling, Gymnastics, Cheer, Volleyball, and so on. Do your best to be a good sportsman in any event or game you participate in.