Our troop has undergone a transition. Often times change is necessary to encourage people to refocus on exactly what scouting is about, what it can do for you and more importantly what you can do for scouting. MQP, or chartered organization, has decided to return its roots with Troop 310, and in so doing has tapped me as Scoutmaster. As my first order of business, let me remind you all of where our troop has been and what we can expect in the future. Here is the text of a Scoutmaster Minute I gave a long time ago. It is just as relevant today as it was back then.
Scoutmaster:
This year we have focused on the meaning of success. In many ways the lessons we have lived and learned are not that terribly different from those we experienced in search of the meaning of the phrase “Life is Good.” I hope that each of you has learned that true "success" is a measured by the level of inner satisfaction we receive from any task.
One of our fist lessons focused on the story of Ester Kim. You will recall that she gave up her spot on the Olympic Team for her friend who was a better competitor, but who was injured and unable to compete to her fullest level. You will recall that I told you:
Esther Kim won a victory far greater than one fought on the mats. She won a victory of the spirit, which qualifies her as a true champion. The champions aren't always the ones who have all the medals. No, sometimes they are cheering from the sidelines. For success and winning is often about victories won in the hidden recesses of the heart. And any of us who will fight and win such a victory will know the meaning of the word "success."
And so too is it with each of you. Many of you have tasted success in the time you have been with the troop. You have advanced in rank and completed merit badges. Some of you have received recognition for meritorious service. Others will receive it today. Although I was not present, I am proud to recognize Kendall Booth. At Summer Camp he applied the lessons he learned in scouting when a fellow scout was ill with hypothermia. His selfless acts and cool decision-making prove that we are making a difference. Many should feel proud of Kendall’s success, for many have contributed to the moment where character shinned though at a time when indecision could have ruled the moment.
Deeds can be a measure of success, but it is not the truest measure. Success is a matter or spirit. The question for each of you is have you grown in spirit? Have you embraced the Scout Oath and Law in your life? For as sure as we can become successful in the performance of a deed, that success can be overshadowed or even erased by a failure of the spirit. Think about it. One lie can overcome a life of successful deeds.
The other day a scout told me that at school another boy was berating him and taunting him in front of many students in the cafeteria about his being in scouts. I asked whether I knew the other boy. It turned out he was a former scout, who dropped out of scouting because other children were making fun of him being a scout. That boy had learned nothing from being in scouting. More importantly, he probably learned nothing about himself, or if he did, he would have realized that his actions spoke volumes about his lack of character. His short time in scouting was not successful. Even though we think of scouting as a panacea for life’s harsh lessons, it is not. Each in this room over the last year has failed in some part of the Scout Oath and Law. Think back of that time when you uttered a harsh word to a brother scout, or failed to extend that helping hand, or took liberties with the truth. Embracing the Scout Oath and Law is not synonymous with a perfect moral and correct life. It is a goal that we constantly try to reach, sometimes falling short, often regressing before taking that giant leap forward. Success is measured over the length of the journey, not based upon one segment. No one in this room is perfect in all aspects of their life, yet most in this room are successful.
In case you have failed to realize, there is a difference between the former scout berating a scout in our troop or any other troop for that matter, and scouts who fail in some part of the Scout Oath and Law. The former has rejected the notion that the Scout Oath and Law provide a moral compass which we strive to use in directing our life’s journey. The latter merely demonstrated that each of us is imperfect -- a lesson I think dates back to Adam and Eve. Remember that bible story. Heck, even God couldn’t insure that his children would constantly follow the right path. However, if you have persistently and lovingly tried to give children wisdom, and they haven't taken it, don't be hard on yourself. If God had trouble raising children, what makes you think it would be a piece of cake for you?
True success is not based solely upon the performance or completion of the task at hand, but instead upon the inner lessons gained from the effort in the first place. We often hear of the stories of men and women who have climbed the highest mountains. On Everest, dreams were dashed; lives were lost, as climbers struggled towards a goal that would forever elude them. The true tragedy was that these men and women failed to fully know themselves, and thus failed to realize that their skills and their values were not appropriate for the mountain. Often times we can gain a measure of success in realizing that our time and talent are better placed in another venture. But we gain no success when we allow others to dictate how we live our lives, what we believe is important or what goals we set for ourselves. Be leaders, not followers. Define your own measure of success. When others define success for you, it is always one step below them, for by limiting your success, they create success for themselves.
I am reminded of a quote for Thoreau that is fitting:
"If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away." - Henry Thoreau (1817-1862)
Each person in this room must undergo a level of self-evaluation -- an introspective test of the heart and soul. For while it is true that each of us can be successful, it is equally true that not everyone in this room is a Mozart, Davincci, Rembrandt, Michael Jordan or Bill Gates. Reach the full measure of your success, not the level that someone else arbitrarily sets for you.
We also learned that success is dependent upon how we respond to our accomplishments. Sometimes, the journey toward a goal is long and difficult. Weary and often frustrated, we are sometimes tempted to question the validity of our destination. For example, the trial to Eagle is not short, and the trail has many “ups”. Just ask Elliot, Spencer, E.J. and me. Our trek on the AT was filled with moments where each of us questioned the wisdom of what we had set out to do. I am sure that in the 2 weeks at Philmont, Elliot, Spencer and E.J. similarly questioned their choice. But I for one can tell you that having completed the journey more than validated the choices each of us made. Remember that being a Scout is not about the rank, but instead about the commitment to ethical choices -- it is a way of life.
Well, I see that my time is near. Let me leave you with my version of:
The Meaning of Success
To earn the respect of intelligent people and to win the affection of children;
To appreciate the beauty in nature and all that surrounds me;
To seek out and nurture the best in others;
To give the gift of myself to others without the slightest thought of return, for it's in giving that I receive;
To accomplish a task, whether it is saving a lost soul, healing a sick child, writing a book, or risking my life for a friend;
To have celebrated and laughed with great joy and enthusiasm;
To have hope even in times of despair, for as long as I have hope, I have life;
To love and be loved;
To be understood and to understand;
To know that even one life has breathed easier because I have lived;
This is the meaning of success.
Yours in Scouting,
Craig J. Robichaux
Scoutmaster
