on the rim

As I was working, I came across an old friend at Camp, and his first question to me was: What do you think about the church's move on Scouting? Of course, he asked as we were trying to get to breakfast, so I didn't have time for the discussion I would have loved to have with him.  We talked about this and that, and how the Boy Scouts are changing.  They are a target of the left, for a number of reasons.  The demand to believe in a God, the tearing down of morals, which the Oath and Law still stand, if not in defiance of the changing mores of society, then as a beacon to guide back to the path that strengthens society in so many ways. Duty to God .  Right off, this idea of a higher power, in spite of all the "enlightenment" of the day, rubs so many the wrong way.  Because if there is a God, then there is likely accountability, and consequences, at least in the Judeo-Christian world. Duty to Country .  Not to be blind to the faults of governments, the...

Probably not a long one tonight.  I am hot, I am tired, and I am ready for bed.  By the way, my preference in a choice between standing for 5 hours in the Trading Post, helping customers, or walking a lot outside in the heat, would be the standing.  But only because of the AC.  Standing on concrete doesn't do the feet any good.  No bother. Tonight, a thought occurred to me, in conjunction with my reading in the book of Judges, that it is when we cease to acknowledge that everything we have is a gift from God, and start to think that it is by our own merit that we have achieved whatever success we have, that things really start to go downhill fast, for aren't we all really at that point saying to God as Lucifer did: "I did it, so thy glory is mine"?  Before you all go Atlas on me, I would point out that those that DO, or BE, do so acknowledging those around them.  The Gulch was not built by John alone, or by Midas, or any of them, it was done togeth...

I was pretty bummed last night, to be truthful.  I feel very humbled to be like the only person here that came up through the program and is not an Eagle Scout.  Nationally, about 1 in 10 or LESS earn this honor.  Pony Express and Heart of America Councils of Scouting BSA have significantly higher ratios.  The ratio on staff, however, is nearly 100%. For years I have been consoled by the words I tell myself, that over 36 years as an adult leader, going to camp, serving in pretty much every leadership role there is in the Troop, Pack, or Post. (before Venturing, I served in an Explorer Post) and that I was making up for not earning my Eagle.  But guess what?  Here there are people that are heavy into scouting, plus their community.  Their work is impressive.  Many of the adults on staff are teachers, which should be no surprise. And what have I done, or what do I have to offer?  See where I am?  Or better said, was?  That was me ...