The Singing Scoutmaster: Give It your All!

(You will need one baking potato that's not overly hard and two plastic drinking straws. Hold up the potato.)

Think of this potato as your obstacle to a desired goal, whether it's your advancement to the next Scouting rank, or earning money for a new mountain bike. (Hold up the first plastic straw in your other hand.)

Now think of this straw as your desire to reach your goal on the other side of the obstacle—in this case, the potato. (Push the straw against the potato. The straw will bend over.) Notice that if you go at your obstacle halfheartedly, your will to reach your goal is easily bent. You are easily kept from your goal.

(Take the second straw and hold it in your fist, placing your thumb over the open end of the straw.)

But, if you are willing to give it your all, you can easily reach your goal on the other side! (Carefully thrust the straw at the potato, keeping your thumb over the open end of the straw. The trapped air in the straw makes it more rigid and the straw should thrust cleanly into the potato. Hold up the potato and straw to show the Scouts that indeed you have reached your goal.)

Not giving up is very important, even if an obstacle seems too great to surpass!