Reality can be TERRIBLE
Robert Steven White (rsw@TFS.COM)
Mon, 26 Dec 1994 12:15:00 EST
Last summer I experienced the best that is Boy Scouts of America when
I took part in one of the training programs at the Philmont Scout Leadership
Training Center. I came away with all sorts of plans and a renewed
vision of what I could do to help the youth in my area. (I also came away
with a large negative number on my credit card thanks to some
shenanigans by some individuals in my area, but that is a private matter.)
I had hoped to use my new found information to start two new scouting
units in my area within two years.
REALITY CHECK!
I have run head long into the penny ante politics of religious
institutional life in America with all it's turf wars, egocentric
leadership, and worship of the all mighty $$. I must admit that I get a
little upset with some leaders in my area who appear to put dollars ahead
of organization (collecting 100 times more money in dues than I ran my
whole year's pack program on last year), but the bottom line in all things
does come down to money. Who is going to pay for turning the lights on
for scout meeting nights, who is going to pay for things that get broken,
who is going to pay for cleaning up, who is going to pay for someone
to unlock the doors, who is going to pay for organizational membership.
Next month I will step down as the Cub Master of my pack after
filling that role for almost four years. The pack will fold because
of a lack of leadership. I had thought of extending my tenure to next summer,
but I decided that I owed it to myself, my family, and to a great group
of boy scouts I am now working with to stick by a promise I made two years
ago. I have been on the verge of burnout for almost a year now (I believe
we all now how taxing scouting can be sometimes).
So I will look to next summer with a net decrease rather than increase
in scout units. It depresses me a little bit, until I remember something
that someone gave me at a round table last year. Something I want to
share with you all.
DON'T QUIT
When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all up hill.
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest, if you must, but don't you quit.
Life is queer with it's twits and turns,
As each of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up though the pace seems slow --
You may succeed with another blow.
Success is failure turned inside out --
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit --
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.
Rob White rsw@tfs.COM
TRW Financial Systems EAPS/RBCS FAX: (502)339-9995/9956
10300 Linn Station Road #100 WORK: (502)339-1990/9993
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY 40223-3840 HOME: (502)456-1651
SFE TRW/CM BSA/ASM BSA/LCDR USNR
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