2021-10 The Flashlight

One of the key essential items that we always pack as scouts is a flashlight.  Why is a flashlight useful?

Back in 1991, a flashlight proved very useful for a few scouts on their first week-long scout camp in Wyoming.  If any of you have ever attended Camp Loll in Wyoming, you know all about the polar bear challenge. Scouts and scouters have the opportunity to take the freezing cold plunge as you recite the Scout Oath and Scout Law. It was after this event that we realized that some of us left some of our gear next to the glacier fed waterfall.  So, with flashlights in hand, four of us made the 1-mile hike back to the waterfall. The flashlights helped us along the trail by providing light wherever we pointed them. Reaching our destination and by the light of our flashlights, we could see our packs that we hung from branches earlier that day and rushed over to retrieve them. Our flashlights also revealed the enormous bull moose who decided to stand up from behind the same tree that was holding our packs! Those same flashlights were now shooting in all directions like light sabers in the sky along the trail as we ran for our lives from Mr. Moose. We lived to tell the tail.

Sometimes, when we are in a group of people, only one person has their flashlight on. That one person determines what the rest of the group will see or the direction we need to hike along the trail. One thing I have noticed in my years of scouting, is that when one flashlight clicks on… more are guaranteed to turn on. We naturally want to be helpful and share our light. It’s amazing when everyone in the group turns on their lights and holds them up. The light takes over the darkness, and all can see.

When you have some time tonight, turn off the lights in your house and turn your flashlight on. Is it bright or do you need new batteries? How much of the room does it light up? If you keep your flashlight on too long, what will eventually happen to the light?

Now, think of yourself as the flashlight. How strong are your batteries? How bright is your light? Do you share your light with others along the trail? What do you focus your light on?

Each day, as we do our good turn, we can recharge our batteries as we do our duty to God and country, help other people, and keep ourselves physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.