My life is busy. I mean CRAZY busy. I have my hands full with balancing work, volunteer activities, and family commitments. Sometimes I wonder if I have bitten off more than I can chew.
But then I meet someone – like a boy I’ll call Sam – and I realize the impact that one person can have.
I first met Sam last Thursday evening. I was in charge of organizing the Join Scouting Night event at McGowen. My schedule had been incredibly tight and I was so tired and wishing for an evening at home. But instead, I found myself in the school cafeteria, enthusiastically telling parents all the benefits and value of our scouting program.
I had finished my spiel and the parents were filling out their forms and heading home when in walked Sam and his mother. It was late, and we were just wrapping things up. I was looking forward to getting home early and inwardly groaned at the thought of having to wait for one more application. And when I discovered that he would be entering as a Webelos II, I had to suppress the almost audible groan. You see, as a Webelos II he only has until February to complete all of his requirements before he will cross over to Boy Scouts. As a pack, we had decided to encourage these boys to think about waiting until February to join and go directly into Boy Scouts. The task is not impossible – but nonetheless daunting – and requires an incredible level of commitment from both the scout and the parents.
But Sam was determined. He wanted to do this. I told him it was doable but not going to be easy. He assured me he would work hard and that yes, it was worth it to him. They left after turning in their app and I wasn’t sure if they’d even follow through.
Sure enough, he came to the pack meeting last night…dressed in his new shirt and carrying the Webelos handbook. I noticed that every time I looked at him last night he was in the middle of a crowd of boys, with a big smile on his face, laughing and talking with the other scouts in his patrol like they were best friends. His patrol performed a skit and he had a part along with the other boys. He looked like he was having the time of his life.
I passed by him as his class was heading to lunch today…and he saw me and just lit up. He rushed to tell his teacher that I was the Cub Scout leader who had signed him up. His teacher thought he meant I was his leader and I assured her that no, I wasn’t – he had other, terrific leaders! – but I asked him how he liked it at the pack meeting. Let me tell you, he just OOZED enthusiasm. He was so excited, his smile was so bright, and he said he had a BLAST. Then his teacher looked at me and said, “And you know how I know he enjoyed it so much? I have to keep telling him to put his Webelos handbook away in class.”
That, my friends, is why I do what I do. For the joy of a young man named Sam. For the smile on Sam’s face. For the pride in Sam’s eyes when he saw me at the Pack Meeting and couldn’t wait to show off his uniform. For Sam’s enthusiasm as he performed his skit and cheered the cookie raffle and laughed with his new friends. For all the leadership qualities and character-building Sam will experience along the scouting trail over the next few months. For the ripple effect that this will have in Sam’s life…impacting not only him but also his family and those around him as they watch his leaders welcome him into their patrol and make him an active part of their program.
There’s not enough money in the world that can hold a candle to the treasure I’ve just received. Thank you, Sam, for being my “bonus check” today.