This is an excerpt of an essay I found in our church's district newsletter, and thought that it would be something worth reading.
Of Lightning Bugs and Humming Birds
by Glenn Ferguson
June is a time of beginnings and endings. Summer vacations start, students graduate, weekend routines are discarded in favor of days at the beach; lying in the backyard hammock with a cold glass of lemonade becomes the preferred way to relax. All of which is great! We need the change of pace and focus that the summer brings. Of course, it’s not like it used to be. (What is?)
Air-conditioning, 303 available channels on our televisions, video games, and computers all conspire to keep us indoors in the summer. The consequence is that we don’t get to enjoy some of the simple pleasures of life that come only in the summer. Remember the joy of running around the yard in the evening chasing lightning bugs? Remember being able to greet your neighbors as they strolled by your house where you were ensconced in your favorite wicker rocker? Remember running through the lawn sprinkler on a hot day, more for the fun of it than to keep cool?
I was sitting on the porch of the parsonage the other day, just listening to the sounds of the neighborhood; birds chirping, the rustle of trees when the breeze picks up, children laughing as they play, the occasional car passing by, and of course, the same song from the Mr. Softee ice cream truck that played in the neighborhood where I grew up. The experience was enriched by the scent of our neighbor’s wisteria and the cloud-like profusion of small white roses along the fence that perfumed the air like incense. Sadly, I suspect that those kinds of moments of serendipity come infrequently to most of us; not because they aren’t there, but because we aren’t paying attention.
How have we come to this way of life? How have we managed to so isolate ourselves from God’s creation that we have difficulty enjoying even the simplest of God’s gifts? We treat God’s world as if it were a commodity for us to use as we please, never thinking of the consequences of the choices we make.
The impact on the physical environment has been and continues to be profound, and we must continue to make corrections in how we live, in order to recover some of what the world has lost. However, I am also concerned with our spiritual environment. What has our attitude towards the physical world done to our spirits? I believe that in many ways, people have lost the capacity for seeing beauty in little things.
My wife and I were sitting by the river one day last week and watched as a hummingbird zipped into view, hovered near us for a moment, and then took off up river. I wonder how many times I’ve missed moments like that and I wonder how many people constantly miss them.
We’ve also come to be largely unmoved by that which in years past might have inspired awe or at least an appreciation of beauty. Some of us were together recently for a backyard picnic to mark the end of our year of Bible study. While we were lining up for food, one of the group members said, “Look at that!” She was pointing out the way in which the sun was shining from behind a cloud and throwing sunbeams across the pink and orange early evening sky. It was a spiritual moment, or at least I hope it was for the rest of the group.
Our attitude toward the world God has given us reveals something about the state of our souls. We cannot be indifferent to the condition of our environment and claim to love God. We cannot be consumers of creation and also say that we see the sacred in all things great and small.
Our cultural isolation prevents us from keeping our place in creation in perspective, and fosters an attitude of arrogance and indifference. It causes us to lose sight of our connection to all that God has made and pronounced “good.” As we can see in the political realm, in race relations, in religious strife, and in many more of the arenas of human interaction, isolation and its children, arrogance and indifference, leads to suspicion, dehumanization of others, prejudice, and war.
We need to come out from behind our computers. We need to put our Palm Pilots away. We need to turn off the television. Turn off the air-conditioning while you’re at it and open some windows. Let the sounds of summer reach your ears. Let the fragrances of the flowers fill your nostrils. Better yet, go outside and chase lightning bugs. Reconnect with God’s world, all of God’s world and all of God’s people. Remember your place in creation and be thankful. If you do, you’ll find it much harder to take things for granted, much more difficult to be indifferent, and nearly impossible to be arrogant.
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SCOUTMASTER’S MINUTE |
We are having an exciting year, and I’m looking forward to continuing this one with great anticipation. Not just for the boys, but also for the adults in our Troop!
You know, scouting is not just for your sons. The adults make lasting friendships in scouting, go on trips, and spend real quality time with their boys, watching them grow from Tenderfoot to Eagle, from boy to young man. I can’t describe the pride and satisfaction that you feel in being the most important person in that process.
For those who want to:
· Relive being a kid again,
· Learn to enjoy being in the Great Outdoors,
· Eat great home-cooked meals under the stars, and
· Grow with your son,
Become a Scout Leader, or at least join us as an active participant in the Troop! We are always in need of leaders; we need the next generation of Scouters to step up to the plate and begin to take the reins. So, come along with your sons, you will find it rewarding, exciting, and who knows, you just might get “hooked” on scouting!
Before I close, I’d just like to run down some of our achievements this past year: on our trip to Jack Frost for the Klondike last year, we placed 3rd out of 72 patrols, winning a prize as a result! I hope you were there to see the looks on our boys’ faces that day – the pride of accomplishment, the reddened cheeks of honest work, and the knowledge that they were able to handle themselves in a hostile environment. At another campout, at Port Jervis NY, the temperature dipped to 8º below, not counting the wind chill. Was there one complaint? Not from your stout hearted Scouts! They safely enjoyed their time in the outdoors that weekend, and came back with a sense of self that no video game will provide.
Summer camp was another great experience for our boys; our patrols won the Conservation Award for the fourth year in a row! They had a great time.
Some of the other trips we went on this past year were whitewater rafting, winter camping, Pine Barrens canoeing, and Catskills hiking.
That’s about all I have to say at this point. Don’t be afraid to volunteer to pitch in, because many hands make short work – and you will be surprised at how much fun it is! Good Scouting To You!
- Troop 39 Scoutmaster Al English
Dear Parents of Troop 39:
I want to extend a warm welcome to our new families. Troop 39 has a long history of service to the community and of growing boys into responsible men. We are sure that you will look upon all of the boys and their parents and caregivers as an extended family, as we certainly are.
As we move forward, it is important that all parents and Scouts recognize that the Troop Committee is really the Parent's Committee. Although Troop 39 is a Scout run Troop, we as parents, are needed to add structure and to help run the day-to-day activities. Often working behind the scenes, we support the Scoutmaster and the other trained adult leaders.
There are opportunities to go camping, help with projects, plan special events and most importantly, ensure the Scouts have a great experience. For those of you who are active Parent Committee members, thanks! For those of you who want to get active, let me invite you to our next meeting. If you have questions, please feel free to call me.
- Kris Hansen, Committee Chair
Just a reminder that the Troop Meetings start at 7:30pm every Monday, and end at 9:00 pm. Therefore Scouts should plan to arrive before 7:30pm (parents: don’t drop them off until you see that the leaders are present), and parents should arrive to pick up their Scouts by 8:45pm. Please be prompt, so Leaders do not have to wait for parents after the meeting. Consider carpooling to save time. Scouts – team up with a buddy, and remind each other of the meetings.
Also, Scouts should be aware that they should attend Troop Meetings in Full Uniform (Class A). Being prepared, you must bring your Scout Handbook, and a pencil or pen. Scout Spirit counts, and to get Scoutmaster points, you must attend prepared!
Calling all Scouts: Please see Mr. Mauro to be sure your records are up-to-date.
When do you have to wear Class “A” uniform? What do you have to do to prepare for a Scoutmaster’s Conference? Well, make sure you check in your Troop Guidebook, which will clarify these and a lot of other questions related to Scouting in Troop 39.
Patty Dioguardi, our Troop manager of our “Supermarket Coupon Program” is telling us that things are going well, and the outlook is good, provided that Troop 39’s parents and friends keep buying the certificates.
We buy certificates from the major local grocery chains, and sell them to the Troop’s adults. You pay $1 for $1 worth of certificate, which is redeemable at the designated food store (Acme, ShopRite, etc.) you specify.
Here’s the beauty of it all – for every dollar spent this way, Troop 39 gets income! No fundraising, No having our boys peddle door-to-door, etc. The proceeds from this program have gone into trips, equipment, and help us pay for necessary scout supplies.
Hey, everyone buys groceries, right? So why not contact Mrs. Dioguardi and prepay your next shopping trip – and help our boys at the same time.
