This week I’ve been doing a lot of thinking. It’s Holy Week, and for me, as a Catholic, it’s a time to reflect not only on my faith, but how I can be a better person through my faith.
I have four holy cards on my nightstand — the only four I’ve ever owned — which I picked up a couple years ago while we were visiting one of the California missions. Of the four, I reflected most on one that I had found particularly appropriate: an image of Jesus with a small group of Boy Scouts. I know, I was equally surprised such a thing existed.
On the back of the card, where usually would be found an appropriate prayer, was the Boy Scout Oath and Law:
The Boy Scout Oath:
On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country, and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.
The Scout Law:
A scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.
It got me to thinking about my promise to do more to be a better person, to live my faith through my actions towards others. Up to this point, I hadn’t really come across a solid way to pin that notion down, to engrain it within…to make it personal.
Being an Eagle Scout, it really hit home. The Boy Scout oath sums up what I see as the most simple and concise path to being the person I want to be. The Scout Law embodies everything we should strive to attain, in 12 powerful words. I was humbled when I thought about it…I had known this all along, had memorized it as a boy, but had let it fade over time.
Life should be a balance of living your faith, working towards your goals and striving to become the best person you can be. I believe the Boy Scouts did an excellent job of embodying these principles, and I intend to embody them myself as I continue my journey.
May you all have a reflective and revitalizing Holy Week, everyone.
