Climbing the Mountain
Tonight we have the honor of presenting the Arrow
of Light award to ____ members of Pack ___. But before I help present these awards, let me
take a moment to relate an appropriate story.
Afar in our dry southwestern country was an Indian
village, behind which a high mountain towered above the desert. It was considered a great
feat to climb this mountain, so all the young braves of the village were eager to attempt
it. One day, the chief said, "Now, boys, you may all go today and try to climb the
mountain. Start right after breakfast, and go as far as you can. Then when you are tired,
come back; but each of you must bring me a twig from the place where you turned."
Away they went, full of hope, each feeling that he
surely could reach the top. Soon the first boy came slowly back, puffing and sweating. He
stood before the chief, and in his hand he held a piece of cactus. The chief smiled and
said, "My boy, you barely got started. You did not reach the mountain, you did not
even cross the desert." I like to think this boy is like a newly inducted Cub Scout;
he has just barely started.
An hour later the second boy returned. He carried a
twig of sagebrush. "Well," said the chief, "you reached the foot of the
mountain, but you did not start the climb." This boy is like the Cub Scout who has
earned his Bobcat badge; he has progressed on his journey but has not really started his
climb.
After another hour, the third boy came back. He
held out a cottonwood spray. "Good," said the chief, "you got as far as the
springs." This might represent the Cub Scout who has reached the first level of his
climb and received his Wolf badge.
A while later, another boy came back with some
cedar. The chief smiled when he saw it, and spoke, "Well done, my boy, you went
halfway up." This is like the Cub Scout who has progressed halfway up the advancement
trail and earned his Bear Badge.
Later in the afternoon, the next boy returned
carrying a branch of pine. To him the chief said, "Good, you went to the third level.
You made three-quarters of the climb. Keep on trying. Next year you will undoubtedly reach
the top." The Cub Scout who has earned his Webelos badge has reached the
three-quarter mark and is in sight of the top. The sun was low when the last boy returned.
He was a tall, splendid boy of noble character. He approached the chief and held up his
hand. It was empty. But he was radiant as he spoke, "My father, there were no trees
where I went. I saw no twigs, no living thing upon the peak. But far and away I saw other
mountain peaks, and beyond them the shining sea."
Now the old chief’s face glowed as he said,
"I knew it! I knew it when I looked upon your face. You have reached the top. It is
written in your eyes and it rings in your voice. My boy, you need no twigs for token, you
have seen the glory of the mountain." The brave who reached the top is like the Cub
Scout who has reached the top -- the Arrow of Light Award. But, beyond the peaks are the
Boy Scouting program that must be met and climbed to reach the shining sea of adulthood. I
would like now to....
-- WLACC Pow Wow Book 1997
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