Proverbs 22:6 Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.
Several times over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to read that verse as part of a service of recognition for young men who were receiving their God and Country award for the Boy Scouts. The God and Country program series is used by both Boy and Girl Scout programs to foster and promote both a deeper understanding and personal involvement among young people in their own religious faith. I’ve been privileged to be able be a mentor for that program and to present a few of these awards in the past and I count those times as blessings in ministry. On one particular occasion many years ago, I was given a gift of a small rose plant with an American flag by the young man’s family. The plant made the trip with us to my internship site, Epiphany Lutheran in Conyers. Sally and I planted it just outside our porch rail. I just knew the plant wouldn’t survive because it looked to be already dying after the move.
Shortly after we got much of stuff unpacked and/or out of boxes, my wife pointed out that the plant had begun to grow back and looked like it may bloom soon. We hadn’t done anything special for it other than try to put it where the plant would get what it needed to survive and grow. It reminded me of a story I had heard about a sweet potato plant which was planted by one of the young people at a children’s center. The sweet potato plant grew and the young person was as surprised over the sweet potato plant growing as my wife and I were over the rose outside our door not just surviving, but thriving.
When the church has thought about missions and the mission field in the past, I know the primary thought was of nations and places overseas. What we have failed to realize is that opportunities exist within our own communities and are already at the doors of our churches. That I think is a primary lesson from the rose and the sweet potato. This coming Sunday is Scout Sunday, and the weekend is recognized as Scout Sabbath. As an Eagle Scout who learned a great deal about myself and my own faith walk in Scouting; I can say that, by in large, Scouting programs are strong, Christlike efforts that vastly benefit the young people and volunteers who continue to commit large parts of their lives and resources to make a profoundly positive impact in the lives of young people. If there are Scouts worshipping with you this Sunday, take the time to speak with and be a blessing to the young people involved and thank the adult volunteers for their ongoing efforts for I believe that when we decide to find some way that we can help young people within our own community grow, we can help those closest to us not just survive, but thrive.
Let Us Pray:
Blessed are you O Lord who gives us the opportunity to reach out and make a difference. Help us to be thankful for Scouting organizations that can make such a positive impact in the lives of young people who live in our communities now and will hopefully one day grow up to be blessings either close to home or in whatever community and church they find themselves. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.
