Funny story. When I was teaching my older son’s 5th grade Webelos den the Scout Law five years ago, they would get stuck. A believer in word play for memorization, I reminded them all they were ‘kind of obedient’ to get them over the hump and so they would always remember what comes after Kind. It worked so well that I use it to this day when newer scouts struggle with it. The humor in telling them that also helps to break the ice so they remember they are in this for fun.
In all seriousness though, scouts aren’t supposed to be kind of obedient, they are supposed to be fully committed to the process. By first thought, we think that means they should behave. Well, they should. But it also means becoming submissive to the reality that they must live by the scout law and oath, abide by the rules of their parents, teachers, and troop, and obey the laws of their community, nation, and world. When scouts don’t learn to be humble in their ways and accept that they must comform to the boundaries that are set, then they can’t possibly learn all that scouting and life have to teach them. The older scouts get, more often than not, this is the scout law they struggle with the most as they yearn to become their own men.
OBEDIENT – adj
- Obeying or willing to obey; complying with or submissive to authority: an obedient son.
- Dutifully complying with the commands, orders, or instructions of one in authority.
I just sent this to my wife to have her get our Webelos II son to read it when he gets in from school. He has been having some of those issues lately. He really loves Scouting so maybe this will help him to see the straight and narrow path that he must follow. Thanks for the words.