On Soaring with the Eagles…
Okay, the dang kid was… Well, he was sort of a jerk, actually. For years. And he was always very independent, until he was a teenager, when he became impossible. A lot like his mother, I told him once. He casually observed that more people accused him of having Dad's hard head than Mom's big heart…
And he liked to do everything the easy way. He always worked better with other people than with his Dad. He had a million talents… he could shoot well, drive well, and play a mean game of soccer. He was Hell on a skateboard, and could do a double upside-down wooferdill from the pike position. But he took some terrible falls. Sort of like what I feared for him in real life…
He did the same every year in high school: First came the A's, then a decline to the barely passing as the year went on. He could find a hundred ways to make his hair look casual-but-cool, and from time to time he reminded me of a modern-day Fonsie. For awhile he relished the "starving street-people" look in fashion and accessories, and it drove me nuts. I found out once that the money he seemed to have for awhile wasn't frugal use of his birthday money, but that he had been panhandling, and was "…rather good at it," he proudly admitted. I suppose society calls this an average kid. But it is painful for a Dad.
He was (still is) a premium clown. Everything is funny. He is a talented actor, a natural leader, and the champion of the downtrodden. But I could see little future for a funny, talented natural leader of the poor.
I noticed a big change in him about a year ago. He began to be more serious about his church activities, and he made a few decisions concerning his friends and activities which showed great wisdom. This wisdom seemed to come and go, and generally was visible only during crisis. But his school activities seemed to improve some.
Now, he had become interested in Boy Scouts at a very early age, and it was good for him. The Boy Scouts of America are designed to allow a boy to do a hundred things, such as gain self confidence and a code of ethics, and with these experiences choose an honorable life and perhaps even to find a rewarding profession. Somehow, I do not think that this brief summary can do justice to the business of the Boy Scouts, but maybe the person my son has become can bear witness of its real value…
He was real busy in the Scout program and progressed to Life Scout (the rank just before Eagle). He remained at that rank for over two years, and I feared that the easy road he seemed bent on taking would become overrun with vices or big problems. He was active, barely, in the Scouting activities during that two years, and suddenly woke up to realize that his time was up. If he didn't make Eagle by age 18, too bad.
He started frantically looking for a project, and had two of them rejected. Time was running out. He saw some easy projects; he rejected them. He found a huge project, over five hundred volunteer manhours required, and he submitted it. It was approved. He was mad at Dad, so he refused his help… but recruited half of our home town to assist him. He would go and be gone for the day on Saturdays… and come home sunburned, tired, and happy…
He is now awaiting his Court of Honor as an Eagle Scout.
Suddenly there are things about him I… HE… never saw before. He walks a bit taller. He helps other Scouts. He is ready to step out in the world and can say "…I am a contributor…".
Now, when the Eagle's Nest is called at any Scout meeting, he will step forward. Whenever he does a resume', he will put "Eagle Scout, 22 Merit Badges" at the top of the list. When his son (my grandson), or his grandson (my great-grandson) is called up to the Eagle's Nest, he will be called up there to be with them, too.
I know men, with sons of high education but little moral fiber, who would give anything to be at their son's Eagle ceremony. And if I had to choose this honor or a sheepskin for my son this day, I would change nothing.
After all, no one ever soared with a sheep…