Discovering Scouting

One of the real joys of working as a volunteer Scout leader is discovering Scouting.

Scouting shares similarities to other endeavors but it is a unique field of work. Like the work of churches it encourages spiritual investigation but has no dogma. Like the work of schools it fosters learning but relies on a highly individualized, experiential approach. Like the work of athletics it builds physical strength but reaches beyond the theory of the game.

That our work is so much like some others is reassuring; that this work is so different is sometimes daunting.

Scouting’s youth and adult leaders are presented with the opportunity to excel and achieve without constraints that exclude falling short of the mark we set for ourselves. We learn to deal with our shortcomings gracefully, encourage one another and start moving forward again. So much of our work isn’t a search of a single right answer – it’s discovering ’ how the whole thing just is’.

“There is a common misunderstanding among the human beings who have ever been born on earth that the best way to live is to try to avoid pain and just try to get comfortable. You see this even in insects and animals and birds.

All of us are the same.

A much more interesting, kind and joyful approach to life is to begin to develop our curiosity, not caring whether the object of our curiosity is bitter or sweet.

To lead to a life that goes beyond pettiness and prejudice and always wanting to make sure that everything turns out on our own terms, to lead a more passionate, full, and delightful life than that, we must realize that we can endure a lot of pain and pleasure for the sake of finding out who we are and what this world is, how we tick and how our world ticks, how the whole thing just is.

If we are committed to comfort at any cost, as soon as we come up against the least edge of pain, we’re going to run; we’ll never know what’s beyond that particular barrier or wall or fearful thing.”

― Pema Chödrön