The Singing Scoutmaster: Insignificant Pin, The

Let me show you something I have in my pocket. It's not very big. In fact, I can almost lose it in my pocket. (Take out a full-sized safety pin.) Ah, here it is—a safety pin. It came from the bottom of the trinket box that sits on my counter and collects tiny things like paper clips, thumb tacks, and screws. You'll find a pin like this one at home, maybe in a sewing basket or dresser drawer or even in a trinket box like mine.

Now when you look at this tiny piece of metal, it seems very insignificant. And, sometimes, that is just the way we feel in this big bustling world. Right now, this pin and the pins you have tucked away at home don't have a purpose. One day that will change though. Perhaps you will be on a camping trip, or rushing off somewhere, and you will realize that there's a button missing from your coat. You won't have another button or the time to search for one, but a safety pin will hold together your coat just fine until you can find a button and sew it on.

If you ever feel like this safety pin—as if you have no purpose—remember that, one day, when you least expect it, your time will come. You will have a chance to do something worthwhile, some little helpful thing that will be very important to someone. Our job is to be prepared for that moment. Then, when our chance comes along, we will be ready to do your best to help out. We'll be surprised to find how often those opportunities to help will pop up, if we are prepared to meet them.