August, 2004

Friends and parents,

It was late at night during the PLC leadership odyssey and I had just asked the boys to hit the sack. There were just a few moans as anyone could tell they were spent from the day's activities. The assistant scoutmasters had gone off on a night hike and Porter was putting out our camp fire. I needed to walk around a little before I lay down. Our camp was situated in a grove of tall pine and the night was cool for August. The trail near our camp led to an open field. I could see the stars and moon. I looked up into the heavens and thought of how many times I have looked at the moon from the woods. How many nights have I slept under the stars? I could not tell you the precise number but I am sure it is in the hundreds. When I was younger and far from home, the nights were lonely. I looked at the moon and would think that it was the same moon the people I loved and missed had in their sky. I thought that somehow if they looked at the moon while I looked that we would be linked and I would no longer be alone. But tonight I looked up and did not have those feelings. Rather I felt good. I was doing exactly what I wanted to do. I was with a great group of leaders that were spending their precious time teaching young boys values and leadership and they were doing it better than I could have imagined. I had a fantastic group of boys, 15 to be exact that wanted to spend their weekend scouting. These boys have chosen to follow the Rugged Road. Many are learning that the rugged road REALLY is rugged and not just an exaggeration for bravado. They have chosen a path that is better and nobler than their peers and with it comes work, effort, sweat, and tears. These boys are your sons. Yes, I was exactly where I wanted to be and I was enjoying life. I savored the moment as I knew moments do not last long. I wandered back to camp and settled down for my sleep.

This was my first night camping as scoutmaster for our troop and I was happy.

See you on the trail,

David Dierken, Scoutmaster
BSA Troop 315
Scoutmaster@Troop315.org

Download Power Point Presentation "Why"