ScoutMastersCorner

I can't even begin to thank everyone for how wonderful the last 10 years have been. I am honored to have been able to work and play with some of the most committed people to scouting and the values it instills in our youth that I have ever seen. Someone said I made it look easy but it was only because of all the support I had and the outstanding boy leaders I've been blessed to spend my time with. We have a special thing going here at troop 123 and I know the Dung is just the man to keep it on track, thank you Dung for stepping up and making the transition much easier. I will try to attend as many events as I can in the coming months and remember you all are in my thoughts and close to my heart.

Jon

This is my last Scoutmaster's Minute as Scoutmaster of 123... I didn't write it but is sure felt like I did.

A little boy came knocking at my Scout room door,
An awfully little fellow, just twelve and no more.
His eyes danced as he watched my gang at rowdy play.
"I would like to be a Scout," he said, "I’m 12 just yesterday."

In the weeks to come he found his place, a trim young Scout he made.
The tests he passed with eagerness, a thorough job sure paid.
The oath, the laws, the knots and flag were taken to his heart.
A better man he was sure to be though he’d just begun to start.

By the candle-lighted darkness I watched his round face beam
As the oath and law he pledged to keep – just like a prayer it seemed.

The years to come were happy ones as we followed on the trail –
that greater men had laid for us, far up where eagles sail.
I watched him grow from boy to man, the days were far too few,
To try and teach the important things that Scouting said were true.

He thanked me once for what I did so many years ago.
It was not his thanks that paid me because he did not know
that greater thanks he’d given me a thousand times before
by his dancing eyes and smiling face – could one ask for more?

There are other boys a-knocking, I must invite them in.
Please, God, give me strength to make them better men.

Buch Burshears, Scoutmaster, Koshare Indian Dancers, La Junta, Colorado

relax and fold your arms. 
"Now, don't move. Look at which of your hands has the fingers on top. Is it the right or left hand?"
Ask them to re-fold their arms with the other hand on top.

How does that feel? weird, different, awkward?
Which way is 'Correct'?
Which way is 'Wrong'?
Which way accomplished the goal of 'Fold your Arms'?

Every scout here is different and has different ideas on how to accomplish goals we set. The leader's job is to take those ideas and decide to use the one that fits his style best. And, then it's your job to follow him, doing your very best to make the plan succeed. It may not be the exact way you would do it, but if it meets the goal then it is a good plan.

The Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea are two bodies of water in the Middle East - I expect you've heard of them.
The Sea of Galilee is full of fish and is surrounded by lush vegetation and trees. It is a living body in every sense. 
There is nothing living in the Dead Sea - no fish - the sea is stagnant and dead. 
The difference between these two seas is that the Sea of Galilee gives up its water while the Dead Sea only takes in water. For every gallon of water that flows into the Sea of Galilee, a gallon is passed on downstream. It is constantly renewing itself. It gives as much as it takes. 
The Dead Sea, on the other hand, only takes. It gives up nothing. The water there is never cleansed. It just stagnates.

Some say there are two kinds of people in the world - those who give of themselves (who help people at all times and contribute their time, money and energy), and those who only take. I bet you can guess which one has a fresh, healthy life and which leads to a stagnant dead end.

Which kind will you be?

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 coffee beans 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 some coffee into a third bowl.

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

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

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 coffee 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 coffee beans were unique. They changed the water, they made the water into something better than it had been.

So, I asked the scout, "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.

Enjoy the coffee!

You've heard the saying "A chain is only as strong as its weakest link". That's absolutely true. With this chain, I can pull a car or lift a heavy load - I can perform many tasks. But, if I try to lift something that is too heavy, one of the links will break - the weakest link will let down the rest of the chain.

In Scouting, each scout works on personal advancement to strengthen himself and improve his skills. Personal advancement increases the strength of each link in our chain so we can accomplish more.

But, there will always be a weakest link. No matter what the task at hand, some person will be less skilled than the others. Someone will not be able to tie a certain knot, or kindle a fire, or hike as fast, or recite as well as the others. At some point, each of you will be a weakest link - I guarantee it! Being the weakest link is not a shameful thing - it is an opportunity for improvement.

One of the best things about Scouting is that our "chain" is better than a simple metal chain. When we have a task to do, we are not really limited by our weakest link. The other stronger or more skilled or more experienced links support the weaker links. They help them, teach them, and guide them. As a result, we accomplish much more than if we each just did our specific task and left the rest.

Do your best to not be the weakest link - for yourself and for your patrol and for your troop. Learn skills, take on challenges, grow! But, be aware that around here the weakest link one day might be the strongest the next - and the strongest may be the weakest.