“Let the youth be taught to look for beauty in all he sees, to embody
beauty in all he does,
and the imaginative will then be both active and healthy.”
– Orison Swett Marden
(1850-1924)
Author/Publisher
Scouting is
all about the outdoors. Camping, hiking,
even the simple picnic are embraced and encouraged in the Scouting
program. It is more than just the fun
you can have in the great outdoors (and fun is a key value of Scouting). It is because there are few better and more
exact teachers than nature itself. The
beauty of God's creating never senses to refresh, inspire, ignite and motivate
young men to doing great and impossible things.
1) To be refreshed
Adults who are our in the
work-a-day world tend to think that they are the ones who experience stress and
fatigue. Let me assure you that young
people also have many stresses and know what it is like to feel fatigue. However, the young seem to be able to find
the refreshers of life as well and the stress points. One of those refreshers is to get out in the
woods. You can witness the beauty of all
that is around you. No matter what man
does or how clever he thinks himself to be, he cannot create the beauty of a
tree in all its autumn spender or a brook that flows lazily through a rocky and
rough path through the woods. This alone
can refresh the weariest soul back to health.
2) To be inspired
One of my favorite books has
always been Walden by author Henry David Thoreau. In it he stated, "I went to the woods because
I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and
see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die,
discover that I had not lived." It
is a sad fact, but many have gone through life without ever having lived. Nothing can inspire us to enjoy the wonders
of life as a trip to the woods can. The
shore line along the lake, the path through the field of flowers or climbing a
tree that has stood longer than you, your father or your grandfather have been
alive, can inspire the dullest of men to greatness.
3) To be ignited
Camping in the great outdoors is
not complete without the classic camp fire to sit around at night. The camp fire is the place of stories and
deep thinking. They bring to mind the
travels of great heroes and the amazing deeds of those who lived long ago. This remembering ignites our own desire to do
great and extraordinary things. The
Greek philosopher, Plutarch said, "The mind is not a vessel to be filled
but a fire to be kindled." Start
that fire and see where it leads you. It
can burn away the impossibilities of life and fuel you to do great things.
4) To be motivated
Almost every year, we as a
family, rent a house in the woods, usually by a lake, and spend time together and
alone. Every morning I make an effort to
be up before everyone else and to go for a walk along the shore line. There I think and pray and seek direction for
my life. I always leave that time away
motivated, inspired and ready for greatness.
Nothing can motivate the heart to it created calling then time alone in
God's wondrous creation. I know, many
say, "But that motivation never stays long." That is true, but we must be able to keep it
moving us forward. The great motivator,
Zig Ziglar said, "People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well,
neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily."
You
matter! You matter to the world and to
yourself. Remember to be your best, love
God, have good manners, achieve the unknown and change your world.
John Patrick
Hickey is an author, speaker, Life 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 http://www.growthcenter.net or www.johnpatrickhickey.com.
© 2014 John
Patrick Hickey
No comments:
Post a Comment