Welcome

Making new friends is a great thing, and we should be open and friendly to all people. This, however, does not mean that everyone is your friend. When it comes to developing close friendships, we must be as wise as we are friendly. Scouts and Scouters must follow the advice of businessman and author, W. Clement Stone: “Be careful of the friends you chose for you will become like them.”

Scouts have a deep desire to bring people up to their level of successful thinking. Because of this, they can, at times, chose the wrong group of friends. They see negative people, making wrong choices, have a poverty mindset, and think they can help them to become better people. With this in mind, the Scouts work at becoming friends with a negative person. What happens most of the time is the positive person becomes negative, not the other way around. We become like them far easier than they become like us.

“Be slow in choosing a friend, but slower in changing him.”

Benjamin Franklin

1706-1790

Statesman/Inventor

Our first President, George Washington, gave some solid advice that is just as true today as it was in his day. “Associate with men of good quality if you esteem your reputation,” Washington said, “for it is better to be alone than in bad company.” People who are known to make bad choices in life will drag you down, even as friends, far quicker than you will ever pull them up.

This does not mean we reject anyone who is not also following Scout principals. You are to be an example to all and to help others find the benefits of the principles of Scouting, but you do not need to embrace them as close associates. Invest your time, energy, and friendship in those who will build you up and encourage you. Teach all you can to everyone. Give good godly advice to all who ask. Just be aware of who your close friends are and keep them right.

Scouts have often had to make the hard choice about leaving old friends behind. We love our friends and want to be with them, but we know that they are not living in ways that build us up or are pleasing to God. Many Scouts insist that they can change their friends only to be dragged back into bad life-styles. It is as Benjamin Franklin said, “Life’s tragedy is that we get old too soon and wise too late.” Use the wisdom God has given you when making and keeping close friends.

Scouting Out of Uniform is a personal blog based on the lessons learned from Scouting that relate to personal development and success principles and is not an official site of The Boy Scouts of America. John Patrick Hickey does not represent or speak for the Scouting program; however, he does completely support and encourages Scouting for both young and old. John Patrick Hickey is an author, speaker, Personal Development Coach, and proud Scouter. To read more from John Patrick Hickey or to get his books, training and book him to speak to your church, business, or group, visit our website at www.johnpatrickhickey.com.   © 2020 John Patrick Hickey