The Singing Scoutmaster: The Fire Drill

Nobody likes fire drills. You're in the middle of something interesting, and suddenly you have to line up and walk outside in an orderly fashion. It feels silly when you know it's not a real fire. Why practice something so simple?

But here's what emergency responders know: in a real crisis, you don't rise to the occasion - you fall to your level of training. When panic sets in, you do what you've practiced. If you've practiced ignoring the alarm or taking it lightly, that's what you'll do when lives are on the line.

A Scout is obedient, especially when practicing for emergencies. We follow the fire drill procedures, the storm shelter plans, and the buddy system rules - not because we think danger is imminent, but because we're training our instincts. When the real emergency comes, obedience won't be a choice we have to think about - it will be a habit that might save a life.