The Singing Scoutmaster: Which Path?

(Draw on a chalk or white board, two paths across a field both leading from point A to point B, but one straight, the other made up of four zig-zagging lines as follows.)

It was a cold spring morning. A light snow had fallen during the night. You know, the kind that just covers the grass. I was visiting my grandparents on their farm. It was still very early when my grandfather and I started across a field to check a fence.

Being the curious type, I first had to run down to the creek to see if it had frozen during the night. Then, as I started back across the field, I noticed a spot where a deer had bedded down for the night, and I just had to check that out, too.

When I'd satisfied my curiosity, I headed back toward my grandfather. I could see that he hadn't reached the fence yet, so I still had time to check out the spot where yesterday I had found an arrowhead before sprinting to the fence, just before my grandfather got there. We stood there for a few minutes, and then he told me to look back across the field at our two paths, which were very visible in the new snow.

There was his, straight as an arrow from the barn to the fence. My path was scattered here and there, going first to the stream, then to where the deer had bedded down, then across the field where I had yesterday found an arrowhead. He asked me, "Which path was the correct one?" When I said, "I don't know," he replied, "Both are. Mine is surely faster and easier, but I didn't get to see the things that you saw."

Remember, you always have a goal, just as we did in getting to the fence today, but sometimes, if you can, take the time to explore the wonders of life.

Whenever possible, we should take time and smell the roses.