Friday, March 27, 2015

Life Lessons From Scouting: Do Your Best

If you are at all familiar with the Boy Scouts of America, you know that we hold a motto that says: "Do your best."
 
As a Ventureer, this is something that I often hear and it is something that I believe should be applied to more than just Scouting.
 
Scouting is more than just an activity, it teaches life skills, but what is the point of learning life skills if you do not put them into action?
 
In life, we must do our best. 
 
An everyday example of this is that I take a cycle class twice a week and though it proves to be a challenge every week, I keep going and doing my best.
 
Sometimes I can get 20 miles in and sometimes I can only get 12 miles in. My goal is not how far I can go, as much as it is how much I give. I would rather leave a class knowing that I gave it my all, then to wonder if I could have given more.
 
One of the most crucial parts of doing your best is that it is YOUR best, not someone else's best. Your best is not going to look like someone else's best because you are not them. Comparing yourself to others will usually only prove to frustrate, more than motivate.
 
Doing your best helps develop perseverance, courage, and strength of character. It makes boys, men and girls, women.  
 
A quote by Sir Robert Baden-Powell says that, "No one can pass through life, anymore than he can pass through a country, without leaving tracks behind, and those tracks may often be helpful to those coming after him in finding their way." 
 
This is one of the things that makes up the core of Scouting. What we do today affects tomorrow. By doing our best, we are setting a positive example and making a difference. It may not be a widespread difference, but one cannot change the world in one day, only one person at a time and it starts with you.
 
I leave you with this quote by Sir Robert Baden Powell that was found in a letter to all Scouters shortly after he had passed away: "Try and leave this world a little better than you found it and when your turn comes to die, you can die happy in feeling that at any rate you have not wasted your time but have done your best." 
 
 
 

Sunday, March 22, 2015

My Ninevah

Tonight my youth minister spoke on the story of Jonah. Even non-believers are familiar with this story.
 
God calls Jonah to go to the most sinful and wicked city around.....Ninevah. Jonah is afraid and runs in the opposite direction. God allows a huge fish to swallow Jonah and then spit him out after 3 days. God calls Jonah again to go to Nineveh and Jonah goes begrudgingly. Jonah prophesies and the people repent.
 
Cool story, right? It still relates us today. Each of us have or will have our own "Ninevah." It may not be a foreign country, but it will be a place out of our comfort zone.
 
God may call us to go somewhere or talk to someone where our faith, reputation, and ego may be put on the line. We will have to trust in God and know that He has a plan, no matter how bad things may seem.
 
This got me thinking about my Ninevah.
 
This summer I will be working at Boy Scout Camp. It is called Boy Scout Camp because it is for....well....boys. That means that the majority of the staff are guys too. So I am one of maybe 4-5 gals.
 
I have very little experience teaching this age group and I know maybe 6 people.....tops.
 
I will be analyzed and watched constantly because I kind of stick out, not only as a newbie, but as a female.
 
I will be surrounded by many different types of people and be put in many different circumstances and scenarios.
 
However I believe that God has opened doors and called me here. Yes, I question my decision a couple times a day, at least. Yes, I am terrified, excited, and a bit crazy. Yes, there are much easier ways I could spend my summer.
 
Instead, I choose this. I choose to go to Ninevah. It is crazy....crazy enough that I know that the idea could not be my own.
 
Doors have opened for me to get more experience with this age group. Doors have opened for necessary training. Doors have opened for me to be in this place at this time. I cannot ignore that!
 
Despite the uncertainty of it all, the God I serve holds me and all my steps. I can be afraid but I will not live afraid.
 
God is calling me to face my Ninevah and I will go!
 
"The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?" Psalm 27:1
 

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Never Seen a Hearse With a Trailor Hitch

It never ceases to amaze me when I look around the world that I live in how much "stuff" we have and how we seem to always crave more.

Cars, food, shoes, money, books, this, that, and the other! We are surrounded by "stuff."

Now, just to clarify, I am not saying that all our "stuff" is bad. Some of it we need to survive and function is our world, but when do our needs and wants become selfish and discontentment?

We have all heard the phrase, "The one with the most toys wins." However, we all know that isn't really true.

No matter how rich, popular, or well off you are, your toys cannot buy the things that bring meaning to life.

Think about it a minute.....

Love, laughter, peace, joy, hope; those things cannot be gained by toys and "stuff."

I believe the line of selfishness and discontentment is crossed when our "stuff" becomes more important than family, friends, people in general, and God.

I heard a song the other day that really highlighted this thought. It is a newer country song called "Trailer Hitch" by Kristian Bush. I was shocked to hear it on a secular radio station, but the song lyrics rang true:

"I don’t know why, know why
Everybody wanna die rich
Diamonds, Champagne,
Work your way down that list.
We try, everybody tries
Tries to fit into that ditch
You can’t take it with you when you go
Never seen a hearse with a trailer hitch
Never seen a hearse with a trailer hitch."
 
This song echoes a verse that can be found in 1 Timothy 6:6:
 
"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that."
 
We cannot "out-give" God. He blesses us with possessions, talents, and certain experiences so that we can bless others. At the end of our days, how we live will not be marked so much by what we have, but by what we gave away. Why not make the most of the time we have?