Going to training is like going to church. There are three kinds of people; 1) those that simply don’t want to go and don’t make excuses; 2) those that don’t want to go because they think they don’t need to; 3) those that go and are edified by the experience. There’s not much you can do with the first group. In the second group, there are those that say they don’t need to go to church because they’re already well in tune with the Spirit and have no need of lectures from the pulpit to help them be closer to God. There are also those that say they already know enough and they are doing what they need to do to attain fulfillment in the hereafter. All the people in that second category need to go to church to help the rest of us poor souls who aren’t firmly on the path to Celestial Glory.
In Scouting you find the same groups; there are those that just don’t want to go to training; those that don’t think they need to go to training because they’ve “been in Scouts since I was 8-years-old” or that figure “the program is running smoothly enough, so why bother with training?” And there are those that go to training, become better leaders and guide young men to Celestial Glory. Again, there’s not much you can do with the first group. As to the second group, if those people are so good at what they are doing, they have a duty to share their secrets to success with other leaders. And the third group is stuck carrying the water.
The truth is, in most cases, things are not going as smoothly as they think and in all likelihood a person’s experience in scouts as a scout is entirely different from what is expected as an adult leader. And further, times have changed; things that were acceptable when I was a scout are now frowned upon and I’m positive there has got to be more paperwork involved than there ever was when I was a kid.
Training offers opportunities to reinvigorate yourself, to share success stories (and failures - it’s always easier to learn from someone else’s mistakes), and to enjoy the company of other adults. Do yourself a favor and don’t miss out on training!
2 comments:
This is one of my greatest soap-box issues. For some reason, LDS Scouters think that the Spirit will hand them what they should do or say INSTEAD of studying (getting training) and the presenting a program to boys who then can start to lead the program.
I serve in multiple areas in my District. I run the Varsity Huddle, I serve on the Training Committee training all new Varsity Coaches and I serve on the Advancement Committee serving most of the LDS units in the District as a primary resource. I have been doing these for a little less than a year. Attendance at Huddle for 17 wards in my District is anywhere from 2-6 a month. Horrible numbers but before I started Huddle no one was going.
I am amazed at the lack of education and training within the LDS Church from its leaders. I almost get jealous when I do advancement for non-LDS units. I wish LDS Scouters could see how good they could be if they only tried. Non-LDS Scouters feed off training and LDS Scouters don't always feel like they need it.
At Little Philmont this weekend, the Stake YMP and the Stake Presidency pushed getting training. Scouting is such a great program and has changed so many even those who didn't earn Eagle.
My heart breaks when I see stagnant programs that hurt the boys because leaders are not trained.
Chad, Varsity Coach
Chad- Eloquently stated! Why would we think the Spirit will guide us in Scouting if we haven't done all we can to prepare first? It's like every other activity in the Church; first you must prepare yourself and do all you can, then the Lord paves the way for you.
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