Duty in Times of Crisis

It seems that every generation has an event that stands out as a once in a lifetime event. We have seen wars, (our great civil war, world war I, World War II, Korea, Viet Nom, Desert Storm and many other conflicts), disease(Polio, measles, 1917 flu outbreak, SARS, mIRES, Swine Flu, Evola to name only a few), natural disasters(Hurricanes like Hugo, Katrina and many others, tornados, earthquakes, massive forest fires, mudslides and more), and numerous manmade tragedies like the Titanic and the Challenger disasters, Pearl Harbor and the World Trade Center on 9/11. Each time we face these horrors with shock, and it knocks the wind out of for a bit, but we always come back to our senses and face it face to face.

The current pandemic we are facing is different than many of the other battles we have fought. One thing is that it has involved the whole world. We are not competing on different sides. We are all fighting the same enemy. An enemy that cannot be seen has no rules to follow and is deadly beyond any we have fought so far. For the Scout, however, we have been preparing to fight this enemy for some time.  Our Oath and Law call us to action. Let me explain.

“And through this, great national unity is happening.  We have a great unity developing that a lot of people didn’t think would be possible to develop like this. And we will conquer the disease and restore our nation to its full and glorious might.  We’re doing well, and I’m very proud of everybody out there.  We’re very proud of you.  It’s something that nobody could have ever projected.  It’s been over 100 years that a thing like this has happened.”

Donald J. Trump

President of the United States

Duty to God and Country: In our duty to God, a Scout understands the power of prayer. That there is no higher power than to come before the Creator of all things to seek help in times of need.  In our duty to the country, a Scout follows the instructions of their leaders. We support our leaders and do all we can to show unity and to follow the instructions we are given.

A Scout is Trustworthy: A Scout can be trusted not to do what they have been asked not to do, such as gather with friends or go to gatherings. They follow instructions. A Scout stays safe and stays home.

A Scout is Loyal: A Scout is loyal to their leaders and does not engage in backbiting or complaining. They may not fully understand why some decisions are made, but they will fully follow them and not support those who cause division and disloyalty.

A Scout is Clean: A Scout washes their hands – often. They are sure to keep themselves and all areas around them clean.

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