A SCOUT’S
REPORT
When I
was a boy, my dad died and mom never remarried but besides loving me and taking
care of me and making sure I went to church every Sunday, the greatest thing
she ever did for me was to get down on her knees before me when I was six years
old and tell me that a woman could not show a man how to be a man. She then
turned me around so that I was facing a group of men (rural and small town
Americans) whereupon she told me to go and watch, listen, and learn. That was
the beginning of my life as a scout.
With a
fatherless void in my chest, I had all the incentive I needed. I began by
scouting my people, followed by the people of other cultures. As a result, I
have studied a great many people, not with conscious intent, not as part of an
academic study, not with anything but a void to fill in my chest, a void which
felt as big as space itself. Into that void, I shoveled everything from John
Wayne to Woody Allen. I shoveled until I was plumb full. And when I had filled
myself up, I was as confused as ever. That’s right, I didn’t know who I was,
and all the knowledge in the world couldn’t help me.
Then I
heard my long forgotten friend Jesus calling, and somehow, almost like groping
in the dark, I found my way back to Him. He took what I had put inside and
brought it to life. And when He did, it was like nothing I can describe except
to say my void filled with light, my eyes could see at last, my stars and
planets were put in order and I was filled with joy. That is what God did for
me. He stoked my heart like the furnace of an iron horse, and it blazed with
gratitude.
After I
was saved, I was so stoked… I took my journey through America. God,
however, didn’t want me to go testifying from town to town (perhaps I wasn’t
ready for that). He only wanted me to make it from point A to B with 4,000 miles
between… that was His wisdom. Through deep appreciation for those who came
before and for those here today, I came away with the truth regarding the
importance of culture.
After
my journey, God didn’t want me to forget what I’d learned. So it was, I “chanced”
on a friendship with the Amish who blew my mind on more than one occasion. Once,
while working a horse in a round pen on an Amish farm, I noticed a procession of
six or seven Amish girls, dressed like pioneers, walking the country lane. The
oldest looked to be twelve, leading the way with direction, but not at all
severe. The youngest was about five, and brought up the rear. To my surprise, they
turned up the driveway of the farm where I worked. I didn’t know what to think
but figured it an Amish thing. I watched as they continued without adult
supervision, but each knowing their task, fetched a stocky miniature horse, then
a miniature covered wagon. They harnessed the horse, hitched it to wagon, boarded
one by one, and as they drove away, they smiled and waved at me. Astonished, I
went in the barn to ask my Amish friend what I had seen. He said the girls had
stopped that morning and left the horse to be shod before continuing on foot to
the one room schoolhouse up the lane. They were not all sisters but children of
the community. I’d seen a miniature school transportation system operated by
children, working together, without adult supervision; independent, efficient,
safe, clean, and yes of course, happy!
I’m not saying that the Amish are
any better than any other people. As a scout, I know from direct experience
that, white, black, red, yellow, brown, rich or poor, right or left… we are all
wonderful, and we are all pathetic. I’m just using the Amish as an example, to
show the goodness of a strong cultural bond. On the other side of the coin, I know
that mixing cultures can be an equally positive part of the human experience, so
long as it’s voluntary. And therein is the danger because, unfortunately in
America today, there’s a new extremism that, if given power, would make multi-culturalism
mandatory, and punish those with a different view.
Extremist
as mentioned above do not view the world directly - but indirectly - from universities,
corporations, government blocks, foundations, media outlets, and the like. And
while their intentions may be good, their social remedies are skewed by a
detachment that allows anger, greed, pride, and other sins to pass under
banners of “justice” and “freedom.” I am
not saying that I am better, or that I have the answers, but as a scout; I
walked through this land, not to make a report, but in the belief that through
faith there would be something better: I put my neck on the line for 4,000
miles - and I can honestly say; I came away with the truth regarding the
incredible importance of the cultural bond, not for just any group of people,
but for any group that centers itself on faith in God. Those who follow the
so-called remedies of the state, or market, will march into darkness – but those
who follow God (not in concept, but as their forefathers and mothers did) will
take the risks, work hard, and grow in the very light that made America great.
James
Sheldon © 2011
