| Category: | Inspirational |
|---|---|
| Notes: | Before the presentation, bind a bundle of dry sticks, as thick as a pencil, together with string or a couple of rubber bands. The bound bundle should be large enough to resist any attempts to break it in two. Hold up the bundle. |
Who would like to attempt to break this bundle of sticks in half? (Let two or three try.) A father had a family of sons who were perpetually quarreling among themselves. When he failed to heal their disputes by his exhortations, he determined to give them a practical illustration of the evils of disunion. For this purpose he one day told them to bring him a bundle of sticks. When they had done so, he placed the bundle into the hands of each of them in succession, and ordered them to break it in pieces. They tried with all their strength, and were not able to do it. He next opened the bundle, took the sticks separately, one by one, and again put them into his sons' hands, upon which they broke them easily. He then addressed them in these words: "My sons, if you are of one mind, and unite to assist each other, you will be as this bundle, uninjured by all the attempts of your enemies; but if you are divided among yourselves, you will be broken as easily as these sticks."
By the same token, if we share the load by dividing the labor and working together, we can accomplish many things that separated we'd never be able to do. (Unbind the sticks, and give them to the same Scouts who before attempted to break the bundle in half, so they can now break them all.)