2022-32 Can You Sleep When The Wind Blows

The other day we had one of those good ol’ summer thunderstorms roll through. There was lightning crashing and flashing through the night sky every few seconds. One element that was not expected to be so powerful was the extreme force of the wind as the down pouring rain soon became horizontal rain and tree limbs began breaking and roofs were damaged all through the neighborhood. I have seen this forceful of wind a few times. One of those time was when I was a teenager and we were traveling cross country to Iowa for a family reunion and ended up in the middle of a storm that produced the largest F5 tornado the state had seen in years. Now tornados are very rare where we live in Utah and we have not had one in years. I’m just saying that this wind was really strong during this last storm and was bringing back those memories of tree limbs flying across our windshield. The next mornings my daughter and I drove around to see some of the damage and it was amazing to see what the wind can do and how some neighborhoods had more damage than others. It reminded me of a Scouter’s Minute that I shared back in 2018 before putting this podcast together.

This one is entitled “Can You Sleep When The Wind Blows?”

A young man applied for a job as a farmhand. When the farmer asked for his qualifications, he said, "I can sleep when the wind blows." This puzzled the farmer. But he liked the young man, and hired him. A few days later, the farmer and his wife were awakened in the night by a violent storm. They quickly began to check things out to see if all was secure. They found that the shutters of the farmhouse had been securely fastened. A good supply of logs had been set next to the fireplace. The young man slept soundly.

The farmer and his wife then inspected their property. They found that the farm tools had been placed in the storage shed, safe from the elements. The tractor had been moved into the garage. The barn was properly locked. Even the animals were calm. All was well.

The farmer then understood the meaning of the young man's words, "I can sleep when the wind blows." Because the farmhand did his work loyally and faithfully when the skies were clear, he was prepared for the storm when it broke. So when the wind blew, he was not afraid. He could sleep in peace.

How does this apply to our lives? The story about the young farmhand illustrates a principle that is often overlooked about being prepared for various events that occur in life. There was nothing dramatic or sensational in the young farmhand's preparations he just faithfully did what was needed each day. Consequently, peace was his, even in a storm. A short poem expresses this principle as it pertains to your life.

It isn't the things you do,

It's the things you leave undone,

Which gives you a bit of heartache,

At the setting of the sun.

What are you leaving undone?

Baden Powell back in the day was asked “Be Prepared… for what?” His reply was, “For any old thing.” Let us continue to prepare ourselves for any old thing. So when our own storms hit through our life, we can also sleep when the wind blows knowing that we have done our best and all is well.

2022-31 Make Up Your Mind

This Scouter’s Minute has been shared many times over the years. I first posted about this one back in 2018 before I even thought of making this podcast . Back then my teenager was 13 and working on his ranks advancements to First Class. I remember giving this same advice. Make up your mind to become an Eagle now, and do it. For the past couple of years things have stalled with him just needing to complete 2 merit badges and his Eagle project. I totally get it. When your a teenager there are so many different, good things that can pull you in all directions like hanging out with friends, school activities, playing sports, working that afternoon or evening job, and dating. In short, putting your Scouting adventure to Eagle on cruse control may not have the desired results. In the case of my own son, time is quickly running out… 9 months time to be exact.

Found in the 1959 printing of the Scoutmaster’s Minute, this minute is entitled “Make Up Your Mind.”

“You can’t advance standing still”

Make up your mind that you will get to Second Class rank within a month or two months’ time, and then go right ahead. It’s as simple as that! Your patrol leader and your other troop leaders will help you, of course, but most important is the determination on your part to help yourself.

Somebody once said that the world makes beaten paths to the doorways of people who make better mousetraps. The beaten path notion has given way to a more aggressive approach to the mousetrap business!

Someone once said, “Just do good Scouting and someday you’ll be an Eagle.” Many people still say it unthinkingly. But it’s too long between Eagles!

Attaining Eagle rank isn’t any more automatic than leading the world in selling mousetraps. If you really want to be an Eagle Scout someday; and want it badly enough to make that your goal, keep pushing till you reach it. Take one hurdle at a time. Second, First, Star, Life; but don’t expect it to be easy. Don’t expect it to be automatic.

2022-30 Muggle Vision

Years ago we took our group on a 15 mile hike between the Teton National Forest and Yellowstone National Park to a destination named Union Falls where a tributary of Mountain Ash Creek joins at the very brink of the falls. Near the falls you will find a geo-thermal hot spring that will give you hours of swimming along with treasure hunting at the bottom of the pool as people lose many personal items there. One of our leaders lost his wedding ring as he was jumping into the water!

Between the warm water, hours of swimming, the 7.5 mile hike in and the 7.5 mile hike back out, all the energy in your body is completely suck out of you by the time your done. This was the case as we were hiking back out and had about 4 more miles until we reached the trailhead. Everyone, scouts and leaders, were shuffling their feet as we slowly made our way back to the trailhead. None of us realized that we were hiking through a patch of huckleberries and that there was a large black bear having lunch 20 yards away from us! The first leader to notice the bear tapped me on my shoulder and whispered, “hey, there’s a bear over there.” My first reaction was, “Dude! Don’t mess with me.”

“No really, there is a bear over there!”

As my eye’s focused on the furry black bear munching on his berries, I tapped the should of the scout in front of me and whispered the same message, “Hey, there is a bear over there.” The scout was a little bit quicker and not so quite about the wildlife sighting. He yelled at the top of his lungs, “A BEAR!”

This is the only time that I have witnessed the ears and face of a black bear look exactly like a stuffed teddy bear. It’s ears perked up and it’s eyes got really wide and open, and then this big ole black bear tumbled backwards and started high tailing it in the opposite direction as scouts and leaders were running and screaming in all directions. Too bad this took place before smart phones. It would have made an epic video.

In the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, we are introduced to the term, Muggles. In the first book Hagrid explains to Harry that a Muggle is a non-magic folk. In the third book or movie in this case, Harry has had enough of his Uncle and Aunt and is running away after blowing up Aunt Marge. He boards the Knight Bus and they start speeding through the streets on their way to London. With so many muggles also driving on the streets, Harry raises the following question. “What about the Muggles? Won’t they see us?!” To the reply Stan says, “Muggles! The don’t see nothing, do they?!”

This was the case for us as we were hiking through the forest and only focusing on our feet shuffling through the dirt. We had Muggle Vision. We were not paying attention to our surroundings as we walked directly into a bear during dinner time. I guess you could say that the bear also had Muggle Vision as he had no clue that 10 humans were walking in on him while he was munching away on his berries. One great tip is to always be aware of your surroundings. Our group was extremely lucky in this case as you never know what attitude a bear may have if you startle it.

Sometimes there are things going on around us that we have no clue of. Some of these things may include us missing out on opportunities for not paying attention. Who knows, maybe there is a troop or patrol member who is feeling left out or going through some hard times and just needs someone to be friendly too them. Let’s be the one that is paying attention so we can be friendly and helpful to other people at all times.

2022-29 Mistakes

We all make mistakes. We all say or do things that sooner or later we come to regret. Here are some things that we will never be sorry for.

• Thinking before acting

• Hearing before judging

• Forgiving your enemies

• Being candid and frank

• Helping a fallen brother or sister

• Being honest in business

• Thinking before speaking

• Being loyal to your church or synagogue

• Standing by your principles

• Stopping you ears to gossip

• Bridling a slanderous tongue

• Harboring only pure thoughts

• Sympathizing with the afflicted

• Being courteous and kind to all

- Author Unknown

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.

2022-27 The Four Freedoms

2017 Scoutmasters minute.

Franklin Roosevelt was elected president for an unprecedented third term in 1940 because at the time the world faced unprecedented danger, instability, and uncertainty. Much of Europe had fallen to the advancing German Army and Great Britain was barely holding its own. A great number of Americans still believed that the United States should continue to stay out of the war, but President Roosevelt understood Britain's need for American support and attempted to convince the American people of the gravity of the situation.

In his Annual Message to Congress (State of the Union Address) on January 6, 1941, Franklin Roosevelt presented his reasons for American involvement, making the case for continued aid to Great Britain and greater production of war industries at home. In helping Britain, President Roosevelt stated, the United States was fighting for the universal freedoms that all people possessed.

Message to Congress - January 6, 1941

In the future days which we seek to make secure, we look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms.

The first is freedom of speech and expression - everywhere in the world.

The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way - everywhere in the world.

The third is freedom from want - which translated into world terms means economic understanding which will secure to to every nation a healthy peacetime life for its inhabitants everywhere in the world.

The fourth is freedom from fear - which translated into world terms means a worldwide reduction of armaments to such a point and in such a thorough fashion that no nation will be in a position to commit an act of physical aggression against any neighbor - anywhere.

- Franklin D. Roosevelt

2022-26 Tale of the Unknown Scout

Scouting was brought to America by William D. Boyce, a Chicago publisher, and the way Boyce discovered Scouting is one of the movement’s most colorful stories. Boyce, it seems, was in London in the fall of 1909 and was out in a famed London fog looking for an office in the center of the city. Nearly at his wit’s end, Boyce stopped a young man and asked directions. Not only did the youth tell Boyce how to reach his destination, he actually led Boyce there to make certain the American found his way without becoming lost again. Boyce, to show his gratitude, offered the youth a tip, but the youth would not accept it. When asked why, the young man told Boyce he was a Boy Scout and taking a tip would negate the good deed he had done and violate his Scouting code.

The youth’s gesture impressed Boyce, who later visited with Lord Baden-Powell himself. Boyce was so taken with Baden-Powell and the Scouting idea that back in America he and other men interested in youth development founded the Boy Scouts of America in Washington, D.C., on February 8th, 1910. No one knows who the Scout was who performed his Good Turn for Boyce, but he has not been forgotten. In Gilwell Park in London, American Scouts had a statue erected in his honor. A large-scale representation of the Silver Buffalo Award, the statue bears the inscription, “To the Unknown Scout Whose Faithfulness in the Performance of the Daily Good Turn brought the Scout Movement to the United States of America.”

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.

2022-24 How To Catch A Monkey

This Scouter’s Minute is one that I shared back in 2016 when I first started ScouterLife.com. This was way before I even thought of creating this podcast and having our weekly scouter’s minutes available by both audio and text. From the 1958 printing of Ideas and Stories for The Scoutmaster's Minute, this one is entitled “How To Catch A Monkey”.

Anybody here want to know how to catch a monkey? Well, I can tell you how they do it in India. They take a coconut, cut a small hole in it, and put some rice inside. Then they tie the coconut down securely and wait for the monkey.

Monkeys are greedy and selfish. I guess you could say anybody who is greedy and selfish is a monkey. Anyway, monkeys are so greedy and selfish that they fall for the coconut trick every time.

The monkey sticks his paw into the coconut to get the rice. He gets a handful -- but then he can't get his hand out of the coconut. His fist won't go through the small hole. And he's so greedy and selfish that he won't let the handful of rice go. He just waits there with his greedy fist wrapped around the rice until the men come and take him.

Well, you've got the moral to this story: Don't be greedy and selfish, or you may make a monkey of yourself.

2022-23 Positive Attitude

This Scouter’s Minute is one that I shared way back in 2014 when I first started ScouterLife.com. This was way before I even thought of creating this podcast and having our weekly scouter’s minutes available by both audio and text. This one is entitled “Positive Attitude”.

A good positive attitude can truly change the way you approach life, and your future. Let me illustrate with a short story.

A few years ago, there was a wildlife organization out west that offered a bounty of $5000 for wolves captured alive.

Two friends, Sam and Jed, decided to make their fortune. Day and night, they scoured the mountains and forests looking for their valuable prey.

Exhausted one night, they fell asleep dreaming of their potential fortune.

Suddenly, Sam woke up a bit startled, and saw that they were surrounded by a huge pack of nearly 70 wolves with searing black eyes, and bared teeth. Low growls rumbling from their throats.

He slowly reached over and nudged his friend and said 'Jed, wake up! I think we're rich!'

A lot has happened in the past eight years from when I first shared this scouter’s minute. There is an extreme amount of negative things happening to each and every one of us on a daily basis. These figurative wolves that surround us may be noticeable by those we interact with. But, they could also be items that affect us emotionally or mentally which are a little harder to see and help us with. Sometimes it’s easier to just be in a bad mood and not give two hoots about the outcome of being in such a mood. But, in my household, that usually ends up with all parties in a bad mood. I’m not sure how I would have reacted if I was the one in this story and was surrounded by a pack of wolves. Especially since wolves are the one creature that I worry about the most when camping near Yellowstone. I hope that each of us can be like Sam in this story and have a positive attitude when our own wolves that attack us everyday surround us.

2022-22 Decoration Day

Decoration Day dates back to the 1860s, when local groups from the North and South laid flowers on the graves of the Civil War soldiers who fell in battle. The name Memorial Day was used with, or in place of, Decoration Day over the next few decades, and after World War I, the day came to honor veterans from all wars, not only the Civil War. In 1971, Congress declared Memorial Day to be a national holiday, to be observed the last Monday in May.

On May 30, 1868, a crowd of more than 5,000 gathered at Arlington National Cemetery for the first Decoration Day (now known as Memorial Day). Before strewing flowers upon the graves of the dead, the crowd listened to an address by President Garfield, then an Ohio congressman who had served as a Union major general during the Civil War. In this first of such annual addresses at Arlington National Cemetery and across the nation, Garfield set a standard by explaining what Decoration Day is all about and why it should be commemorated.

“...Hither our children’s children shall come to pay their tribute of grateful homage. For this are we met to-day. By the happy suggestion of a great society, assemblies like this are gathering at this hour in every State in the Union. Thousands of soldiers are to-day turning aside in the march of life to visit the silent encampments of dead comrades who once fought by their side. From many thousand homes, whose light was put out when a soldier fell, there go forth to-day to join these solemn processions loving kindred and friends, from whose heart the shadow of grief will never be lifted till the light of the eternal world dawns upon them. And here are children, little children, to whom the war left no father but the Father above. By the most sacred right, theirs is the chief place to-day. They come with garlands to crown their victor fathers.”

Everyone celebrates memorial day in their own ways. This Memorial Day as we place flowers, wave American Flags, and gather as families, let us remember those brave soldiers who paid the ultimate sacrifice for the principles and freedoms of this nation. They are truly patriots. Thank you to all who serve in our armed forces.

2022-21 Quick To Be Slow

Anger is a normal emotion that everyone experiences from time to time. Especially with everything that has been going on in the news lately. However, if you find your anger turns to aggression or outbursts, you need to find healthy ways to deal with anger. One phrase that I have adopted is “be quick to be slow”. Meaning, act quickly to be slow to anger. We are taught this principle in James 1:19 of the bible. 

There are many children’s books that help us understand our anger and how we should react when angry.  Our go to book on this topic is Llama Llama Mad at Mama.  Mostly because I can relate to Llama Llama as both of us agree that shopping is not fun!  The best part about this book, It does not tell you how to handle your anger. Instead, it leaves it open for the adults and children to come to their own conclusions of how to control their emotions.  

Here are a few way to control your anger:

1. Count down from 100

2. Take slow, deep breaths

3. Go for a walk

4. Stretch

5. Play some tunes

6. Stop talking

7. Put yourself in a timeout

8. Write in your journal

9. Picture a stop sign

10. Watch or listen to something that will make you laugh

As Scouts, we could probably recite the Scout Oath or Law over and over until we diffuse our anger.  And if you are still not cooled down after that… maybe go on to recite the outdoor code a few times.  

Let us all be quick to be slow to anger as we live and practice the Scout Oath and Law each and every day.

2022-20 Take Me Out to the Ballgame

In 1908, one of the most iconic songs associated with the game of baseball was written. “Take Me Out to the Ball Game”. A couple of interesting facts, the writers of the song, Jack Norworth and Albert Von Tilzer, had never attended a baseball game until after they wrote the song. Jack was inspired to write the song while riding the subway and seeing a sign that read, “Baseball Today”. It was not until 1934 that we have the first record of this song being played at a high school baseball game in LA.  Later on in 1934, it was played at game 4 of the World Series. This song can be heard during Minor and Major League games in the middle of the 7th inning and the crowd usually joins in the singing.

Baseball is one of those things in life that I love. Like many of you, as a youth, I played ball.  My position was catcher. The best part about being the catcher, you usually get to keep moving during the whole game as the pitcher throws every ball or strike to your glove. My father was my little league coach, which made the experience even more memorable. Today, life has come full circle and now I coach my kid’s team. There is just something about standing on that red dirt, the smells of fresh cut grass and popcorn from the snack shack, and the sounds of the crack of a bat as the crowd cheers. Baseball is also a game that does not have a time limit. Sure, little league usually sets a time to be done and calls the game, but that is the only case. In reality, whoever has the most runs at the end of 9 innings is the winner. In the event of a tie in the 9th, we go on to extra innings to find out who the winner is and the home team always has last bats. A few years ago, at Angel Stadium, we attended a game that went into the 14th inning! That was a long game!

Life is very similar to a baseball game.  None of us has a crystal ball telling us how long we are going to be on this earth or the choices we are going to make.  We take each pitch, one at a time. Sometimes we will make choices that result in getting on base, striking out, or even hitting a home run. In life as in baseball you must play to the last out as opposed to playing until the time runs out.

In the Scout Oath and Law, we are charged to being physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight. To be Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent.  Each one of these points are essential as each of us play our position in the epic game of baseball called life.

Take me out to the ball game,
Take me out with the crowd;
Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack,
I don’t care if I never get back.
Let me root, root, root for the home team,
If they don’t win, it’s a shame.
For it’s one, two, three strikes, you’re out,
At the old ball game

2022-19 Turn That Frown Upside-down

The past couple of years, with individuals wearing masks has made it difficult to see everyone’s smiles. With more restrictions disappearing, we can again start to see everyone’s facial expressions. It’s amazing how your nonverbal facial gestures can give off so much communication. One of these key gestures is that of smiling.

A smile can mean multiple things. Happiness, joy, content, and even empathy. Sometimes we have to force a smile as the camera is pointed at us and mom or dad is telling us to say “cheese”. But, most of the time we smile when we are happy. It’s also one of those contagious things we can do. Next time you are in the grocery store, in line for school lunch, or at the bus stop. Make eye contact with someone and give them a smile. Don’t make it weird… but just a simple smile. Chances are that they will smile back. Plus you might have brightened their day with your smile. According to a study at Walden University, we do not learn how to smile. We are actually born knowing how to smile. With the advancement of 3D ultrasound technology, doctors and medical practitioners have been able to identify that developing babies smile in the womb. Once a baby is born, they continue to smile. This is true of all babies regardless of culture and environment, as smiling is a basic and biological uniform human expression.

When I was little, I can remember singing a song in my Sunday School primary class. The lyrics go like this:

If you chance to meet a frown,
Do not let it stay.
Quickly turn it upside down
And smile that frown away.

No one likes a frowning face.
Change it for a smile.
Make the world a better place
By smiling all the while.

Dale Carnegie wrote the following poem about a smile:

It costs nothing, but creates much. It enriches those who receive, without impoverishing those who give. It happens in a flash and the memory of it sometimes lasts forever. None are so rich they can get along without it and none so poor but are richer for its benefits.

It creates happiness in the home, fosters goodwill in a business, and is the countersign of friends. It is rest to the weary, daylight to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad, and nature's best antidote for trouble.

Yet it cannot be bought, begged, borrowed or stolen, for it is something that is no earthly good to anyone 'til it is given away. And if in the hurly-burly bustle of today's business world, some of the people you meet should be too tired to give you a smile, may we ask you to leave one of yours?

For nobody needs a smile so much as those who have none left to give..

In the Scout Law we strive to be helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, and cheerful. What better way to start than with showing off your smile to others.

2022-18 Rhino Sight

The other day a close friend of mine shared a story about when he visited Africa and experienced his first rhinoceros sighting in the wild.

Some facts about rhinoceros

• They are huge!

  • White rhinos can weigh over 3 tons.

• They are called bulls and cows.

  • Females are called “Cows”

  • Males are called “Bulls”

  • Baby’s are called “Calves”

• Rhino horns are made out of the same stuff your fingernails and hair is made of.

  • This stuff is called Keratin. It’s also the same stuff rattlesnake rattles are made of.

• They love mud.

  • Rhinos can often be seen rolling around in mud, giving themselves a protective 'mud coat’ to keep them cool, stop insects biting and get rid of any parasites.

• Rhino’s have poor eyesight

  • Their eyesight is not great. They are unable to see a motionless person at a distance of 30m. They rely heavily on their sense of smell.

Lets focus on the eyesight of this magnificent creature. I’m reminded of Jurassic Park when the massive T-Rex breaks out of its containment and Dr. Grant is the only one who knows what to do… “Don’t move, it’s vision is based on movement.” I’ve always been amazed at the knowledge of Dr Grant… How did he know that! These things have been extinct for millions of years. Anyway, back to Rhinos. Just like the massive T-Rex in the movie, if a Rhino focuses on you, it will do everything and anything in its power to run you down. It gets laser focused.

Sometimes we need to be laser focused with things that pop up in our lives. I know that with me personally, there are times that I need to be laser focused on a project at work because there is a deadline coming up that I can not be late on. There are times that we need to focus 100% on a piece of homework that is due the next morning. There are also times that we focus on the wrong things at the wrong time that eventually causes us to miss out on the more important items.

Let us do our best to focus on the right projects at the right time as we strive to be thrifty with our time.

2022-17 Gettysburg Address

This week marks 6 months since an amazing scouter passed away, my father. In addition to being the greatest man and father anyone could ask for, he was also a patriot. Dad worked in broadcasting for many years and as I was going through some of his personal items after his death, I came across a podcast that he was creating but never published. The name he had planned for it was “Byte of History” where he would have a weekly topic on American history. This week’s Scouter’s minute, we share with you one of the completed episodes of “Byte of History” entitled, Gettysburg Address. I hope you enjoy it.

4 score and 7 years ago I would bet that 99% of people listening know exactly where that sentence comes from and who said it. It was Thursday November 19th, 1863. It had been four and a half months since the Union Army had won the Battle of Gettysburg. Now who knows what four scores and seven years are? The meaning of this speech is that it had been 87 years since the Declaration of Independence.

Controversy surrounds this speech. Up to 5 possible manuscripts along with a number of reprinted speeches in newspapers have different wording. It is also not clear where the platform actually was as President Lincoln delivered his speech. However one thing was very clear, President Lincoln was there for the dedication of the soldiers National Cemetery at Gettysburg.

The Battle of Gettysburg lasted from July 1st through July 3rd 1863. Resulting in the fatalities of 7058 men, 3155 Union Soldiers, 3903 Confederate. Many more wounded or captured. Even while the dedication of the cemetery was happening men were still burying soldiers. The recovery and burial started in 1863 for burial in the soldiers National Cemetery. The last known remains from the Battle of Gettysburg were found on March 9th 1996. Even today it is suspected that remnants still lie in the fields around Gettysburg.

President Lincoln in his group of officials traveled from Washington DC to Gettysburg on November 18th. Accompanying the president were William Seward, John Usher, and Montgomery Blair. All members of his cabinet. Several foreign officials along with his secretary John Nicholas, and his assistant secretary John Hay, accompanied him.

The presentation at Gettysburg was to be simple. They started with a musical selection and the Reverend T.H. Stockton said an opening prayer. Then another musical selection, this time offered by the Marine band. Then Edward Everett gave the oration of the battles of Gettysburg. Now if Mr. Everett's oration was in keeping with the day, we would find it to be very long. His oration lasted 2 hours. The talk had 13607 words in it and of course many of us today have no idea what was in his oration. After Mr Everett's oration, another hymn was sung. It was then that the dedicatory remarks by the President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln were made.

While traveling to Gettysburg on the 18th, the President had told his assistant secretary, John Hay, that he felt weak. On the morning of the 19th he remarked to his secretary, Mr Nikolai, that he felt dizzy. Mr Hayden noted that during the speech Mr. Lincoln's face had a gastly color and that he looked sad, mournful, almost haggard. When Lincoln boarded the train at 6:30 p.m. that evening he was feverish and weak with a severe headache. After returning to Washington DC President Lincoln was diagnosed with a case of smallpox. It does seem highly likely that President Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address while becoming ill with the case of smallpox.

After Mr everette's address President Lincoln only spoke for a few minutes. He summarized his view of the war in just ten sentences. President John F Kennedy once said, “the ground on which we stand shuttered under the clash of arms and was consecrated for all time by the blood of many soldiers.” Abraham Lincoln, in dedicating this great battlefield, expressed in words so eloquent why this sacrifice was necessary.

US Senator Charles Sumner wrote of the address after President Lincoln's assassination in 1865. He said, “that speech uttered at the field of Gettysburg and now sanctified by the martyrdom of its author is a monumental act.” In the modesty of his nature Mister Lincoln said, “the world would little note nor remember what we say here. But it can never forget what they did here.” He was mistaken. The world has taken note of what he said and will never cease to remember it.

***

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Abraham Lincoln

November 19, 1863

2022-16 Sword in the Stone

This legend takes us back a few years… around 500 AD

A baby boy is born to King Uther and the Queen of England. During this time of history, England is not a safe place. Evil is strong in the land and many men have the desire to overthrow the king and become king themselves. For the safety of their son Arthur, the King and Queen secretly deliver the baby to Sir Ector. Ector has a son named Kay and takes care of Arthur as his own. As the boys grow, their interest begins peaking with tournaments and one day, Kay will begin competing.

Eventually the day comes when a servant of the king comes to Sir Ector’s house with news that King Uther is dead. The servant also delivers the message that all the king’s knights must go to the big stone on the road to London. So the next day Sir Ector travels to meet all the knights of England along with Merlin.

Merlin explains to all the knights that the King’s sword is in the stone and that only the king of England can take it out. One by one each of the knights attempt to pull the sword out of the stone, but all fail.

A few more years down the road and no one has pulled the sword out of the stone, and England has not had a king since Uther passed. Kay is now a knight competing in many tournaments and has realized that he has forgotten his sword as he prepares to compete in London. Arthur has been assigned to find a sword for Kay and starts searching and comes upon the sword that has been placed in the stone. Arthur pulls the sword out and rushes back to deliver the sword to Kay.

The tournament comes to a complete stop and everyone is in auh as they realize that the sword Aurthur has brought is the sword in the stone. Arthur is the new king of England!

Naturally there are those who doubt that this boy has actually pulled the sword out, so to eliminate all doubts, Merlin calls everyone to the stone and places the sword back in. Again, many attempt to pull the sword out with no success. Then Merlin asks Arthur to take the sword out of the stone. Arthur goes to the stone. He pulls the sword… and it comes out of the stone. The crowd erupts with Arthur being the new king of England.

We can only imagine the confusion with Arthur as he has grown up being a wart to Kay his whole childhood.

Many times we doubt the potential that is within us. All of us are destined and capable of becoming great and doing great things. Scouting, through Cub Scouts or ScoutsBSA, helps us grow and become good people. Such is the case with Arthur. He was in the humblest of situations, an heir to the throne working as a servant to a knight. Now… the closest thing that each of us have to a sword would be our pocket knives, which you should not try and wedge into a stone… But in reality, we can compare King Arthur’s sword to something else. The Scout Oath and Law. As we live the Oath and Law, we continue to become better scouts and better citizens of our own communities. Let us continue to grow physically, mentally, and morally for the time will shortly come when it’s our turn to prove ourselves worthy.

2022-15 Carrots, Egg, and Tea

A scout I know wanted to talk. He was bummed about school and family and life in general. Things were just 'too hard'.

While he was telling me his troubles, I filled three pots with water and put them over the fire.
When the water was boiling, I put some carrots in one pot, an egg in the 2nd, and some mint tea in the 3rd.

Then, the scout and I went for a short walk, just to pass some time. When we returned, I scooped out the carrots into a bowl, the egg into another bowl, and poured some mint tea into a cup.

Then I asked the scout, "What do you see?"

Being a bright scout, he said, "Carrots, an egg, and some tea."

I had him feel the carrots and he said they were soft and mushy.
I had him break open the egg and he saw it was hard-boiled.
I had him take a sip of the tea and he said it tasted warm, strong and rich.

Each of these things encountered the same harsh, boiling water.
The carrots started out tough and crunchy, but the water made them soft, mushy, and weak.
The egg looked the same before and after being boiled, but its inside had become hard.
The mint tea was unique. It changed the water and made the water into something better than it had been.

So, "Which do you want to be?"

Are you tough and sure when things are comfortable, but wilt and lose heart when hard times come?

Do you keep your inner feelings hidden under a shell but let hard times harden your heart and kill your spirit?

Or, do you embrace adversity and turn hard times into times of growth? Do you work to improve difficult situations? Do you look for ways you can make things better around you rather than retreating into yourself?

Tough luck, hard times, gloomy days, heartache, and pain come to everyone - its called 'life' and it happens. People that seem happy or content have just as much trouble in their lives as those that are miserable. They have just found a better way to meet challenges and persevere. They strive to make the most of what life brings them.

2022-14 The Owl and the Grasshopper

Aesop’s Fables

The Owl always takes her sleep during the day. Then after sundown, when the rosy light fades from the sky and the shadows rise slowly through the wood, out she comes ruffling and blinking from the old hollow tree. Now her weird "hoo-hoo-hoo-oo-oo" echoes through the quiet wood, and she begins her hunt for the bugs and beetles, frogs and mice she likes so well to eat.

Now there was a certain old Owl who had become very cross and hard to please as she grew older, especially if anything disturbed her daily slumbers. One warm summer afternoon as she dozed away in her den in the old oak tree, a Grasshopper nearby began a joyous but very raspy song. Out popped the old Owl's head from the opening in the tree that served her both for door and for window.

"Get away from here, sir," she said to the Grasshopper. "Have you no manners? You should at least respect my age and leave me to sleep in quiet!"

But the Grasshopper answered saucily that he had as much right to his place in the sun as the Owl had to her place in the old oak. Then he struck up a louder and still more rasping tune.

The wise old Owl knew quite well that it would do no good to argue with the Grasshopper, nor with anybody else for that matter. Besides, her eyes were not sharp enough by day to permit her to punish the Grasshopper as he deserved. So she laid aside all hard words and spoke very kindly to him.

"Well sir," she said, "if I must stay awake, I am going to settle right down to enjoy your singing. Now that I think of it, I have a wonderful wine here, sent me from Olympus, of which I am told Apollo drinks before he sings to the high gods. Please come up and taste this delicious drink with me. I know it will make you sing like Apollo himself."

The foolish Grasshopper was taken in by the Owl's flattering words. Up he jumped to the Owl's den, but as soon as he was near enough so the old Owl could see him clearly, she pounced upon him and ate him up.

Flattery is not a proof of true admiration. Do not let flattery throw you off your guard against an enemy.

2022-13 Money Is Not Everything

The past couple of weeks we have been working on the Personal Management Merit Badge. While working on this badge you start to gain an understanding of project management, time management, and money management. In my opinion, money is one of those necessary curses of life. We must have money in order to purchase goods and services. My trade profession is that of being an accountant. I manage and report on money for businesses every day. Sometimes those business do very well and are making a ton of money. Sometimes those businesses are doing all they can to just break even and sometimes they even lose money.

If you were asked, could you use a little more money? I’m pretty sure that all of us would say yes. Even though money can buy some really great and also needful items., ponder on some of these comparisons of what money can and can’t buy.

Money can buy a house, but not a home.

Money can buy a bed, but not sleep.

Money can buy a clock, but not time.

Money can buy glasses, but not vision.

Money can buy a book, but not wisdom.

Money can buy a doctor, but not good health.

Money can buy social status, but not class.

Money can buy a car, but not character.

There is a old saying that you can’t take your money with you to heaven.

I personally have witnessed wealthy individuals who are unhappy, even though they could buy anything they wanted to cheer themselves up. One thing that I was taught early in my youth was, “money does not buy happiness.” Now, I’m not saying that money is bad. Just remember that money is not everything. There are certain things that money can never buy.

Back to the personal management merit badge. We learn during this badge how important it is to safeguard your money. Through trial and error, there are certain things that you will find you want and do not want to spend it on. As we go through life, protect your investments as you live the 9th point of the Scout Law, Thrifty.