2021-19 Mother

Today is Mother’s Day. This is the one day set aside on the calendar to pay homage to all of our mothers. To me it seams kind of silly that mom’s only get one day. In reality, for all the dirty diapers, sleepless nights, taking care of me when sick, and supporting me with church, school, sports, and scouts. Mom deserves to be celebrated throughout the year! But in reality, all mom really wants instead of a flower, or breakfast in bed, if for me to just do my best, and just be good.

About 50 years ago, the following poem entitled “Mother” was included in the Pennsylvania School Journal.

Do you know that your soul is of my soul such a part
That you seem to be fiber and core of my heart?
None other can pain me as you, dear, can do
None other can please me or praise me as you.
Remember, the world will be quick with its blame
If shadow or stain ever darken your name,
Like mother, like son, is a saying so true,
The world will judge largely of mother by you.
Be this then your task, if task it shall be
To force this proud world to do homage to me.
Be sure it will say when its verdict you’ve won,
She reaps as she sowed, lo! this man is her son.

“Mother” - Penn. School Journal

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.”

2021-17 Dollar Bill

Have 2 crisp dollar bills to assist with this Scouter’s Minute

Showing one of the dollar bills: Take a look at this nice crisp dollar bill. Fresh off the printing press from the mint. Nice right? Well, I’m going to to give it away so raise your hand if you would like this fresh, clean, crisp one dollar bill.

Ok, before I give it away, I’m going to crumple it up into a ball. Who still wants it?

Ok, hold on, I’m going to drop it on the ground and step all over it… Who still wants it?

(hold up the crumpled bill in one hand and the second clean bill in the other)

In my pocket I have another fresh, clean, new dollar bill. Lets compare the two. One of these bills is clean and nice to look at. The other as been through some hard times. It’s crumpled, grimey, and not as good looking as the crisp dollar bill.

What is the crisp dollar bill worth?

What is the crumpled dollar bill worth?

Neither is more valuable than the other. Their worth is not based on how they look. Like these dollars are valuable because they are dollars, people (you, me, and everyone else who calls this 3rd rock from the sun home) are valuable just because they are people, not because of how they look.

2021-16 Titanic

Around this time of year, I am always reminded of the story of the Titanic. For those of you who don’t know this story, I’ll share a quick version of it. I’m guessing that my fascination with this story stems back to being a kid in the 80’s when Dr. Robert Ballard found the Titanic on the ocean floor over two miles down from the surface. My Dad really enjoyed watching National Geographic To this day I can still remember myself sitting on the couch next to my father watching the video images from the submersible Argo play out on our television the resting site of the RMS Titanic.

On April 10th, 1912 the Titanic started her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York City. She was the newest and largest ship afloat at the time. She also had the newest technology of watertight compartments that gave her the nickname Unsinkable. Many people believed that even God could not sink her. She was a powerful and majestic ship. Her first class accommodations were the most luxurious of any ship with a gymnasium, swimming pool, libraries, and the finest dining. At the time, there were three classes. First Class, Second Class, and Third Class (also known as Steerage). With all the high tech safety features, and engineering that went into building her in Ireland, the 2,224 passengers and crew members had great confidence in her… a little too much confidence.

Titanic, on her maiden voyage, only carried 20 lifeboats. Less than half of her capacity of 48 lifeboats. If something drastic happened and the passengers needed to abandon ship, only 1,178 people at most would be able to fit on the provided lifeboats.

Captain Edward Smith gave the orders for full steam ahead. On April 14th, four days into the crossing of the Atlantic, and about 375 miles south of Newfoundland, she struck an iceberg at 11:40pm ship’s time. On the starboard side, starting from the bow and working it’s way back, the iceberg started punching holes in the hull. A total of 5 of the 16 watertight compartments were now exposed to the ice cold water of the great Atlantic Ocean. But not to worry, she was unsinkable from the watertight compartments that could be remotely sealed from the bridge right. Yes and no… The design of the compartments below deck made it possible to keep the ship afloat if 4 compartments or less were damaged. But the iceberg breached 5 compartments causing the water to flow over the top of each compartment as it filled with water and gradually caused the ship to sink as each of the 16 compartments filled with water. The distress call of S.O.S. was broadcasted out to anyone who could help. The RMS Carpathia responded to the call, but was 58 miles away and would take over 4 hours to reach the Titanic.

To the lifeboats! But remember. There were less than half of the needed lifeboats onboard to save everyone. Women and children were first to be saved. So the crew began loading the lifeboats, but only at half their capacity. It’s even speculated that First Class passengers refused other classes to be permitted on the lifeboats they were on. Also, many of the passengers, in the beginning, felt that loading the lifeboats was unnecessary. Even the dining room was setting the tables in preparation for the next meal. They still believed that this great ship would not sink. The lifeboats continued to be released with less than full capacity, the band kept on playing, and for the most part the passengers did not see the danger.

In two hours, things started to get bad, real quick. The bow started to dip farther into the water. So much that passengers noticed the angle as they walked or ran to their lifeboats. Those that doubted that the ship would sink, came to the quick realization that the Titanic was doomed. But now most of the lifeboats were either already gone, or filling up quickly. There was no more room for those who waited too long to be saved. One can only imagine the chaos with a sinking ship in the middle of the freezing Atlantic, flares being launched into the dark sky, the sound of the water spilling into the bulkheads, the band playing Nearer My God To Thee, screaming, crying, fear…

At 2:20 am, from the weight of the water pulling her down, Titanic broke apart and foundered with over 1,000 people still aboard the ship.

Those who did not hesitate running to the lifeboats were saved. Sometimes the small and simple decisions, like taking a seat in a lifeboat, are the choices that end up determining the rest of our lives.

We can learn many lessons from the history of the Titanic that we can apply into our daily lives. As scouts, we learn to always be prepared. When Baden Powell was asked what to be prepared for, his response was “Why, for any old thing.”

Continue to do your best each day as you prepare yourself for “any old thing.”

2021-15 Over The Plate

Springtime brings many things. A few of those things are baseball and softball. One of the most sought after and watch positions in softball and baseball is that of the pitcher. For the pitcher to strike out the opponent the ball needs to be thrown just right in a space that is only four feet wide by 6 feet long and varies by the height of the batter.  Have you ever watched a game where the pitcher was on fire and had complete control of every pitch? Have you ever watched a baseball game or a softball game that had a wild pitcher who was completely out of control?

Control is so important whether you are the pitcher in a ball game or whether you are considering self-control, self-discipline. You may have the speed of a cannonball and all kinds of curves, but this speed and curves without control won’t be much good. And we might add that control of temper, of appetite, of tongue, of brawn and brain are even more important.

Grantland Rice in his fine poem, “Over the Plate,” tells the story so very, very well:

It counts not what you may have, my friend,
When the story is told at the game’s far end;
The greatest brawn and the greatest brain
The world has known may be yours in vain.
The man with control is the one who mounts,
And it’s how you use what you’ve got that counts.
Have you got the bead? Are you aiming straight?
How much of your effort goes over the plate?

We encourage you to continue to do your best to do your duty to God your country and to yourself as you strive to live each point of the scout law.

2021-14 The Three Trees

Once upon a mountain top, three little trees stood and dreamed of what they wanted to become when they grew up.

The first little tree looked up at the stars and said: “I want to hold treasure. I want to be covered with gold and filled with precious stones. I’ll be the most beautiful treasure chest in the world!”

The second little tree looked out at the small stream trickling by on its way to the ocean. “I want to be traveling mighty waters and carrying powerful kings. I’ll be the strongest ship in the world!”

The third little tree looked down into the valley below where busy men and women worked in a busy town. “I don’t want to leave the mountain top at all. I want to grow so tall that when people stop to look at me, they’ll raise their eyes to heaven and think of God. I will be the tallest tree in the world.”

Years passed. The rain came, the sun shone, and the little trees grew tall. One day three woodcutters climbed the mountain.

The first woodcutter looked at the first tree and said, “This tree is beautiful. It is perfect for me.” With a swoop of his shining axe, the first tree fell.

“Now I shall be made into a beautiful chest. I shall hold wonderful treasure!” the first tree said.

The second woodcutter looked at the second tree and said, “This tree is strong. It is perfect for me.” With a swoop of his shining axe, the second tree fell.

“Now I shall sail mighty waters!” thought the second tree. “I shall be a strong ship for mighty kings!”

The third tree felt her heart sink when the last woodcutter looked her way. She stood straight and tall and pointed bravely to heaven.

But the woodcutter never even looked up. “Any kind of tree will do for me,” he muttered. With a swoop of his shining axe, the third tree fell.

The first tree rejoiced when the woodcutter brought her to a carpenter’s shop. But the carpenter fashioned the tree into a feedbox for animals.

The once beautiful tree was not covered with gold, nor with treasure. She was coated with sawdust and filled with hay for hungry farm animals.

The second tree smiled when the woodcutter took her to a shipyard, but no mighty sailing ship was made that day. Instead, the once strong tree was hammered and sawed into a simple fishing boat. She was too small and too weak to sail on an ocean, or even a river; instead, she was taken to a little lake.

The third tree was confused when the woodcutter cut her into strong beams and left her in a lumberyard.

“What happened?” the once tall tree wondered. “All I ever wanted was to stay on the mountain top and point to God...”

Many, many days and night passed. The three trees never forgot their dreams.

But one night, golden starlight poured over the first tree as a young woman placed her newborn baby in the feedbox.

“I wish I could make a cradle for him,” her husband whispered.

The mother squeezed his hand and smiled as the starlight shone on the smooth and the sturdy wood. “This manger is beautiful,” she said.

And suddenly the first tree knew he was holding the greatest treasure in the world.

One evening a tired traveler and his friends crowded into the old fishing boat. The traveler fell asleep as the second tree quietly sailed out into the lake.

Soon a thundering and thrashing storm arose. The little tree shuddered. She knew she did not have the strength to carry so many passengers safely through with the wind and the rain.

The tired man awakened. He stood up, stretched out his hand, and said, “Peace.” The storm stopped as quickly as it had begun.

And suddenly the second tree knew he was carrying the king of heaven and earth.

One Friday morning, the third tree was startled when her beams were yanked from the forgotten woodpile. She flinched as she was carried through an angry jeering crowd. She shuddered when soldiers nailed a man’s hands to her.

She felt ugly and harsh and cruel.

But on Sunday morning, when the sun rose and the earth tremble with joy beneath her, the third tree knew that God’s love had changed everything.

It had made the third tree strong.

And every time people thought of the third tree, they would think of God.

That was better than being the tallest tree in the world.

The next time you feel down because you didn’t get what you want, sit tight and be happy because God is thinking of something better to give you.

• Source unknown

2021-13 Palm Sunday

Today is the Sunday before Easter, which makes it Palm Sunday, the first day of Holy Week that commemorates the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem. This event is mentioned in all four gospels in the New Testament.

In many churches today, Palm Sunday is celebrated by the blessing and distribution of branches that represent the palm branches that the crowd used as Jesus Christ rode into Jerusalem. One tradition is for some of the churches to collect the palms after they are used for Palm Sunday and ritually burn them on Shrove Tuesday and then use the ashes on the following day, Ash Wednesday, which is the first day of Lent. Eventually leading to Resurrection Sunday, which we celebrate as Easter.

As many of you celebrate this week, we invite all, no matter what religion or belief you have, to pause and reflect on those things that you are grateful for. Reflect on those who have help you in a time of need. Reflect how you personally have been there for someone who needed help.

In the well-known story, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis, we encounter a world that has been enchanted by the evil White Witch. She has placed Narnia in a constant winter with no sight of Christmas. Upon the arrival of Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy; Aslan returns to Narnia along with Father Christmas. The Witch’s spell of “always winter and never Christmas” has ended. During this time, Edmund has been enchanted by the Witch and is under her power.  Edmund is rescued, but the Witch is demanding his life as a traitor and must be put to death. Aslan sees that in order to fulfil the law of Narnia, and keep Edmund alive, he must step in and offer himself to the Witch in Edmunds place.  The Witch is very pleased with this compromise and Aslan is killed. The following morning, he has risen from the dead.

Back to the current time and world. As the snow starts to melt, the flowers start to spout, and the trees begin to bud.  Let us all reflect on the renewal and rebirth of spring as we come out of our own personal winters.

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.  

2021-11 Circle Up

Today is the fourteenth day of March, which means its Pi Day! When doing a simple Google search, or by pushing the Pi button on your calculator, one will discover that the result is 3.141592654. Pi, one of the most well-known mathematical constants, is the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter.  For any circle, the distance around the edge is a little more than three times the distance across. What’s interesting about this calculation is that it continues on to infinity.  We usually stop after the 9th decimal when describing this constant due to your calculator’s display. 

One circle that we create at the end of every den, pack, patrol, and troop meeting in our unit is a closing circle.  This tradition dates back many years ago with other packs and troops. The Living Circle  was usually held at the end of den and pack meetings.  Cub scouts would form a circle, give a thumbs up with their left hand, and grab the thumb of their neighbor. While pumping their left arms up and down they would chant,”Ah-h-kay-y-la! We-e-e'll do-o-o ou-u-r best!". At the word “best” all would snap into the Cub Scout salute.  There are many different variations of this ceremony. Within the troop, there are also circle up ceremonies with multiple variants.  One that comes to mind is the Circle Count Off.  This is where the troop circles up and each scout counts off their number individually clockwise. As the scout says their number, they place their left hand on the left shoulder of the scout to their left. When all have counted, everyone makes the scout sign and recites either the Scout Law or Scout Oath. 

In our unit, pre covid, we form a circle, fold our arms right over left, and clasp hands with the person next to you on each side. We then sing a closing song, usually Scout Vespers or Paddles. After which we will have a scoutmaster’s minute.

When we create the closing circle, all are included. Parents, Scouts, Leaders, siblings, and anyone else who is in attendance. We, as scouts, have a comradery with each other. We include each other in all that we do, always. Since we are “kind” scouts, we also include those around us. Tonight as you stand hand in hand with your fellow scouts in the circle, look around at everyone. We are all brothers and sisters of this troop. We help each other at all times. We look out for each other, and not just because you were assigned to each other as buddies during the last camp out. You are a part of the circle of scouting, and just like the mathematical constant Pi, that keeps going on and on for infinity, the experiences and lessons learned as a scout will stay with you forever.

2021-10 The Flashlight

One of the key essential items that we always pack as scouts is a flashlight.  Why is a flashlight useful?

Back in 1991, a flashlight proved very useful for a few scouts on their first week-long scout camp in Wyoming.  If any of you have ever attended Camp Loll in Wyoming, you know all about the polar bear challenge. Scouts and scouters have the opportunity to take the freezing cold plunge as you recite the Scout Oath and Scout Law. It was after this event that we realized that some of us left some of our gear next to the glacier fed waterfall.  So, with flashlights in hand, four of us made the 1-mile hike back to the waterfall. The flashlights helped us along the trail by providing light wherever we pointed them. Reaching our destination and by the light of our flashlights, we could see our packs that we hung from branches earlier that day and rushed over to retrieve them. Our flashlights also revealed the enormous bull moose who decided to stand up from behind the same tree that was holding our packs! Those same flashlights were now shooting in all directions like light sabers in the sky along the trail as we ran for our lives from Mr. Moose. We lived to tell the tail.

Sometimes, when we are in a group of people, only one person has their flashlight on. That one person determines what the rest of the group will see or the direction we need to hike along the trail. One thing I have noticed in my years of scouting, is that when one flashlight clicks on… more are guaranteed to turn on. We naturally want to be helpful and share our light. It’s amazing when everyone in the group turns on their lights and holds them up. The light takes over the darkness, and all can see.

When you have some time tonight, turn off the lights in your house and turn your flashlight on. Is it bright or do you need new batteries? How much of the room does it light up? If you keep your flashlight on too long, what will eventually happen to the light?

Now, think of yourself as the flashlight. How strong are your batteries? How bright is your light? Do you share your light with others along the trail? What do you focus your light on?

Each day, as we do our good turn, we can recharge our batteries as we do our duty to God and country, help other people, and keep ourselves physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.

2021-09 Minnows and Whoppers

Who here has been guilty of telling a fish story… I know I have plenty of them. As friends, we enjoy telling these stories and reacting to them around the camp fire. With each story telling the size of the grizzly bear gets larger and larger along with the size of the rapids that flipped our raft. We enjoy them because they are funny, and nobody is fooled into thinking that it really happened that way.

But some people tell fish stories all the time, They’re not usually funny stories around the campfire. In fact, they’re really lies. I call them minnows and whoppers.

You may have heard of the term “little white lie”. These are the minnows. They may seam harmless and insignificant in the beginning but in the long run can add up to be a whopper. For example, while completing your tenderfoot fitness requirements, It’s not going to hurt anything to say you did 5 more push ups than you actually did… right. The most damage done is to your own character. A scout is trustworthy, right? Each time that we tell a minnow, it gets easier and easier to do so. At the same time it becomes easier to tell a whopper of a story. These big lies are the ones that have the chance of hurting somebody.

The best thing is to stick to the truth. Minnows, just like the real ones in the pond, have a way of growing into whoppers.

2021-08 Fluer-De-Lis

One of the most notable symbols within Scouting is the Fleur-de-lis.  This symbol has been used by many European nations, most notably within France where the translation is respectively “flower lily”. 

This symbol is capable of holding many meanings at the same time. Religious, political, artistic, symbolic, and emblematic. Throughout history the fleur-de-lis has been used by French royalty.  Within the Catholic church the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph are often depicted with a lily. This symbol is also often used on the compass rose found on maps and globes, a tradition started by Pedro Reinel. Some of you may even follow a pro football team that places this flower lily on everything that bears their name.

In the early creation of the Boy Scouts, Lord Baden-Powell implemented the fleur-de-lis into the Scout’s badge.  Here is what he has to say about the subject. Found in the book, Lessons from the Varsity of Life, by Lord Baden-Powell.

Lord Baden-Powell -

Years ago, soon after the Boy Scouts were first started, certain critics accused the movement of being a military one.

Whenever anything new is started there are bound to be people who get up on their hind legs to find fault with it, often before they know what it is all about.

In this case they said that the Scout movement was designed to teach the boys to be soldiers, and they quoted in proof that the crest of the movement was, as they described it: “A spear-head, the emblem of battle and bloodshed.”

I was asked by cable what I had to say about it. I telegraphed back: “The crest is the fleur-de-lys, a lily, the emblem of peace and purity.”

But it wasn’t for that reason that Scouts took it. In the Middle Ages, Charles, King of Naples, owing to his French descent had the fleur-de-lys as his crest.

It was in his reign that Flavio Gioja, the navigator, made the mariner’s compass into a practical and reliable instrument. The compass card had the initial letters of North, South, East and West upon it.  In Italian the North was “Tramontana.”

So, he put a capital T to mark the North point. But in compliment to the King he made a combination of the letter T with the King’s fleur-de-lys crest. From that time the North point has been universally shown on the maps, charts, and compass cards by that sign.

The actual meaning to be read from the fleur-de-lys badge is that it points in the right direction (and upwards) turning neither to the right nor the left, since these lead backward again. The stars on the two side arms stand for the two eyes of the Wolf Cub having been opened before he became a Scout, when he gained his First-Class Badge of two Stars. The three points of the fleur-de-lys remind the Scout of the three points of the Scout’s Promise - Duty to God and King, Helpfulness to other people, and Obedience to the Scout Law.

2021-07 Enjoy The Hike

The other day we visited Zion National Park located just outside of Springdale, Utah. As you enter the park, the sheer awe of the towering cliffs on each side is just breathtaking. The contrast of the green trees up against the red rock along with the blue skies farther up… it’s perfect.  It’s truly how I personally imagine heaven to be.  

My family is one that loves the outdoors. We jump at any opportunity to hit the trails. Within Zion National Park there are many trails that you can explore.  There are trails that are on the beaten path, and are so well traveled that the National Park Service has paved the way for anyone to enjoy if they require strollers, wheel chairs, or any other assistance.  There are also those trails that are hidden in plain sight from those who are passing by not even knowing what they are missing… almost like muggles in the Harry Potter world.

This last trip, we took things a little slow. The prior month each one of us was sick with that virus that has been going around… so our lungs are not 100% back to full function.  But, in reality that was a blessing in disguise as we were walking along the trails.  It forced us to take a break every so often.  It caused me to reflect on how often we tend to hike for enjoyment, rather than for the destination.  

Anyone who has hiked with me can attest that I usually get lost at the back of the pack.  Naturally I tend to be the caboose of the train when we go as a scout group. The same when I am hiking with my family.  Part of the reason is because I want to make sure that none of the members of the group are left behind and are safe. But, a larger part of the reason is I’m taking it all in. The smell of the trees. The sound of the dirt or sand or crunchy leaves under each step. The wind blowing around me. I’m the guy that is sitting with his tripod and camera recording Caterpillars hatching in the spring.  Or getting the close up picture of the brown bear munching on his lunch… it’s the little things I guess.

Back to this last trip in Zion, as we were taking one of our many breaks, I found myself observing a different creature than I usually do… humans.  I could tell which people were taking it all in, those that had had one objective to get to the destination and then head back out, and those who truly did not want to be there and were only there because mom and dad had the keys to the car. We even witnessed a gentleman watching a movie on his phone as he was hiking along a trail that had 1500 foot drop offs! Each case is totally fine, well… except for watching the movie. Safety first, keep your eyes on the trail. There is not only one cookie cutter way to complete the hike. Everyone is different. That’s what makes this world so unique and beautiful. 

Life is very comparable to hiking on these trails.  Sometimes the path is easy. And sometimes it's a little sketchy and scary. Especially when the only thing that is keeping you safe from falling a couple of thousand feet is a chain that has been bolted into the rock. There will be periods of time when a project at school or work will take all of your time. And you just want to focus and complete it as soon as possible.  There will also be those times when life is good and school is out for the summer.  No matter the difficulty level of the trail that you are currently on. Take some time and reflect on the little things around you that are making the big picture. Take a breath of fresh air, and enjoy your hike. 

2021-06 In God We Trust

This Sunday is Scout Sunday and throughout the nation scouts and scouters are practicing the 12th point of the Scout Law, reverent. Although the official date for Scout Sunday is the Sunday before BSA’s birthday on February 8th, your troop or pack can celebrate Scout Sunday, Scout Sabbath, or Scout Jumuah throughout this month.

If you have a penny, take it out of your pocket and let's take a look at it.  What do you find on it? That’s right. On the front of it we can find President Abraham Lincoln, to the left of him is the word “Liberty”, and above his head we can read “In God We Trust”. Not only as individuals, but as a nation, too, we are committed to live and work in harmony with God, and with his plan. 

During the month of February we celebrate some of the great men who influence us. George Washington and Abraham Lincoln who’s birthdays we celebrate on President’s Day and Baden-Powell’s birthday. 

These men had many things in common. Love of the outdoors. Human kindness and love of people. And an earnest duty to God and helping to work out a better world. Each one of these men often acknowledged their dependence on God.

Now let's take a look at that penny again. It’s only worth one cent. It’s the smallest amount of money that you can carry in your pocket. But, how amazingly powerful and strong are the words that it bears, “In God We Trust”.

2021-05 How Close

Did you know that over 80% of all households in the US have a magnet on their fridge? Magnets can also be found in everyday items from telephones, computers, stereos, and your TV’s. Even this giant third rock from the sun that we call home is one big magnet. All magnets have a north and south pole. The old saying, “opposites attract” rings true when it comes to magnets. When you place the north pole close the south pole of two magnets, the end result is usually the two snapping together. One of my favorite things to do with magnets is to push two against the same pole. With the stronger magnets it really fun to feel how much force is being applied by the two as they repel each other.

In the late 60’s, A man by the name of Clark P. Russell shared the following story about how we can liken ourselves to that of a being a nail against the powers of the magnet.

A boy playing with a magnet looked up and said, “Dad, see how it pulls this nail out of my hand - even before it touches the magnet.”

“Yes, Son,” said the Father - then seeing an opportunity to teach a lesson, he continued, “How close can you come to the magnet without the nail being pulled away from you?”

“I don’t know Dad, but I’ll try.”

After several tries, the boy found that, although he was careful, he just could not tell how close to go before it was too late.

“It always seems I can go just a little farther,” he said.

“It is the same way, my boy, with the strong forces that may be tempting you sometime. You can never know how close you are to being drawn beyond your power to return.”

“But Dad, it’s hard to believe that there is something stronger than my own will.”

“Nevertheless, it is something you cannot find out for yourself without damaging results. It is a wise general that recognizes a stronger enemy before the battle, and makes a victorious retreat without casualty. You can do it too.”

- Clark P. Russell

2021-04 Be A Fire Builder

On every campout I have been on over the years, there seems to be that one scout that is the fire builder of the troop. This is the scout who’s first reaction when arriving at the campsite is to get the fire built before they even think about setting up their tent, or the camp kitchen, or the dining fly. They are the same who at first light are attempting to blow on the small embers from last night’s fire to get the flames roaring again despite any of the weather conditions the elements may throw at them.

We practice using flint and steel during patrol meetings throughout the year to help prepare you for when the time is needed to strike the spark for the overnight campfire each month. If you have ever used a flint and steel, you understand the difficulty level and the skill that is involved. As you strike the flint (or ferro rod) with the steel, you will notice that you can produce a spark. But, if you do nothing with your spark, it will quickly die out. You need to have your tinder and kindling ready. You need to be ready to feed that little spark with fuel and with oxygen. Feed the spark with too much of either and you run the risk of smothering it. You must have patience as you tend to this little spark that will eventually burst into a flame with the right conditions. A flame that will meet all your needs of cooking, warmth, protection, and light.

Most worthwhile endeavors are like building a fire with your flint and steel; friendships, school, sports, employment, even marriage and parenthood. “They all start with a little spark, but require careful and attentive nurturing before they will burst into flame and sustain themselves.”

Now, back to those early morning risers who are fire builders. On these especially cold winter campouts, there is always those select few who are tending to the fire and making sure that there is plenty of fuel while the others are stuck in place huddling around the fire to stay warm. Those who do not help feed the fire still enjoy the benefits of the warmth it provides. But, if there are no fire builders, and no one else leaves the fire to get more wood, the fire will eventually die out and everyone will be cold.

We encourage you, as Scouts, to be fire builders. Look after those little sparks that you have that will eventually heat and light the path not just you, but for those that you serve throughout this life. Strive to be the citizen that is actively doing their part in your community to help other people at all times, and to always be prepared.

2021-03 Dreams Are Important

Many things that we enjoy in life are due to regular people having dreams. Sometimes the solution or the creation of things can happen from our dreams when we are sleeping. Google was born from a dream Larry Page had. The sewing machine was actually a result of a nightmare that Elias Howe had in 1845. One of the most famous individuals in history, Albert Einstein, came up with the theory of relativity from a dream involving cows and a farmer and his view point during his dream.

Dreams are not subject to only happen when we are asleep. The second part of the definition of the noun is a cherished aspiration, ambition, or idea. Sometimes we hear the phrase, “May all your dreams come true…” This could be an idea that you have to fix or make something better. This could be a hope that things can change for the better.

One man has a very famous speech that includes the phrase, “I have a dream”. This man was Martin Luther King Jr. In 1963 he shared his dreams from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial with the world. That day he shared his dream that his “…four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. I have a dream today!”

Sometimes our dreams my seem far fetched, or hopeless. Don’t listen to the dream stealers. With a little hard work, and perseverance, you can make your dreams come true. Continue to dream about how you can make life better for yourself and for others, and act upon those dreams.

2021-02 Physically Strong

In 1867, a sickly, asthmatic (which was sometimes fatal in those days), and frail nine year old boy received some advice from his father. “Son, you have brains, but brains are of little use without the body; you have to make your body, and it lies with you to make it.” From that day forward, this young boy started to make his body, and he never ceased in making that body until the day of his death. In the home gym that his father built, the boy became a strapping young man who loved to compete in boxing, rowing, gymnastics, weightlifting and exploring the wonders of the outdoors.

After graduating from Harvard, his doctor advised him to find a desk job and avoid strenuous activity due to discovering that the Lad had a serious heart problem. Instead of taking the doctor’s advice, he went out and climbed the Matterhorn instead. In 1880 he married and entered Columbia University Law School which only lasted a year before he decided that law school was not for him and dropped out and entered public service. In 1884 both his wife and mother died on the same day causing him to grieve for two years at his ranch in the Badlands of the Dakota Territory.  There he worked as a frontier sheriff and eventually remarried. In 1886 he ran for mayor of New York City, but did not win the race. But that did not get him down because in 1886 he worked for the U.S. Civil Service Commission and in 1895 became the president of the New York City Board of Police Commissioners. It seemed like he was on the fast pass of his career as 2 years later he was named the assistant secretary of the U.S. Navy and then a year later became a colonel of the First U.S. volunteer Cavalry known as the “Rough Riders.” Shortly after, he was named Mckinley's running mate for the Presidency and won! In 1901 his running mate was shot by a deranged man and sadly died, causing this sickly, asthmatic, frail boy from New York City, to be sworn in as the 26th President of the United States at the age of 42. His name, Theodore Roosevelt.

When the world is constantly telling you that you can’t, be like President Roosevelt. Don’t let your weaknesses bring you down. Learn from them and get stronger. Each time we recite the Scout Oath, we give our honor that we will do our best to be physically strong. Because, No matter how weak or strong we are, there is always room for improvement.

2021-01 Your Neckerchief

When you joined your troop, chances are you received a triangular piece of cloth called a neckerchief. As you know, this is worn with your uniform around your neck. There is a constant debate on if the neckerchief should be worn over or under the collar… I’ll leave that topic for you to discuss amongst yourselves. This triangle is one of my favorite pieces of the uniform. Not just because it adds some color to the monochromatic scheme of the uniform or that it is extremely helpful when playing a game of dragon tails. But, the reason why it’s my favorite is because it has so many different meanings. The color of your neckerchief could represent your troop or what patrol your in. It could indicate that you attended a jamboree or national youth leadership training. When I was a staff member at Island Park Scout Camp just south of Yellowstone National Park, we had a very unique neckerchief that made everyone aware that we were a staff member. The triangle was made out of a flannel fabric, and had fringe along the boarding to represent the fringe on a mountain man’s clothing with the Island Park Scout Camp brand in the middle of the field of the neckerchief. It not only visually indicated to other people that we worked at the scout camp, but it also created a sense of comradery between everyone who wore it.

As we go through the ranks and merit badges, we find that the neckerchief can be used for many other purposes including first aid applications. While hiking with my family I still wear a neckerchief to protect my neck from the sun and to cool myself down by soaking it in water along the trail. But, there is one purpose that tends to get overlooked, to remind you of the Scout Oath. The neckerchief has three points. Just like the Scout Oath has three points. Duty to God and Country, Duty to Others, and Duty to Yourself. I challenge you to remember the three points of the Scout Oath each time you place your neckerchief on your neck. To God and your country, to help other people at all times, and to keep yourself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.

2020-33 Everybody's Canoe

A young brave was busy at work carving a canoe out of a log. As he worked, members of his tribe passed by. They all had a piece of advice to offer the young man.

“I think you are making your canoe too wide,” one of them said. The young brave, wishing to show respect for the advice of an elder, narrowed the canoe.

A little later, another warrior stopped and said, “I’m afraid that you are cutting your stern too full,” he said. Again the young brave listened to the advice of the elder and cut down the stern.

Very soon, yet another member of the tribe stopped, watched for a while, then commented, “The bow is too sheer.” The young brave accepted this advice as well and changed the line of the bow.

Finally, the canoe was complete and the young brave launched it. As soon as it hit the water, it capsized. Laboriously he hauled it back onto the beach. Then he found another log and began his work anew.

Very soon, a member of his tribe stopped by to offer some advice, but this time the young brave was ready.

“See that canoe over there?” he asked, pointing to the useless craft on the beach. “That is everybody’s canoe.” Then he nodded at his work in progress. “This one,” he said, “is my canoe.”

There are many times that we tend to be the ones in this story giving the advise. When a patrol leader is assisting with teaching a new skill to a scout for their rank advancements, or when the cub scout has been given the assignment to make their own pinewood derby car… sometimes the voice of others take over the project and it is no longer just that scout’s work. I personally am guilty of once hijacking my son’s pinewood derby car. Dad’s pinewood derby might look amazing, but is it really the design that the young cub scout was desiring? It’s totally fine if the project or task fails every now and then…failure is good learning moment.

When I was a young scout, we had the best Scoutmaster. Mr. Davis. What made him great was his ability to teach. He even told us at the beginning of each lesson, “now, I’m only going to show you how to do this once and it’s up to you to learn and remember this.” He understood that each one of us had different skills, talents, and learning abilities. When it came time to pass off your requirements with him, it didn’t matter your process of learning as long as you could pass off the final end result with him. He was always there if we needed to ask for his advise, but never did he push his ideals of how the project or task should be completed. Best of all, I now incorporate what I learned from Mr Davis those many years ago.

The early 1900’s American poet, Edna St. Vincent Millay said, “I am glad that I paid so little attention to good advice; had I abided by it I might have been saved from some of my most valuable mistakes.”

Let us be courteous when giving advice. Like the young brave in the story, they may take your advice out of respect. But in the long run, your ideas may not be the most beneficial for the one that your giving the advise to.