A BAD BOY SCOUT
REPOST FROM JULY OF 2011
“Did you get a chance to read any of my manuscript”? I asked. “I started, but it read like a blog!” – “I WILL NOT take my time to read that!!!” He declared with fury in his voice. I didn’t even know what a blog was at the time.
Without having read much, if not any of my manuscript, the man I’ll call Stan railed on me for over 52 minutes. Stan was an elder at our church at the time, a self and church proclaimed mentoring coach, led the men’s ministry, and even preached on occasion.
Stan was a great guy, I’m sure still is, he was generally fun, engaging, and had a big personality, but chose not to use any of those traits the day I called him. To be honest, if I hadn’t known Stan’s heart and service for God, I would have never sat and listened to him basically degrade me for close to an hour.
I knew Stan pretty well, but I learned more of who Stan really was and where he was in his life that day.
Have you ever had events in your life that really rocked your world? The things that may have sent you over the cliff of self-control, into an unstoppable free fall?
With all due respect and the acknowledgement that I’m not perfect and have done less than many people, most assuredly Stan, for the advancement of God’s kingdom, his reaction was less than mature.
When I was around eight years old, I somehow got talked into or was made to join the Cub Scouts. I used the too big, faded blue shirt and yellow neck-tie-folded-scarf-thing, handed down through two big brothers, for my turn at what seemed like a forced family tradition.
It was more fun than I thought it would be due to the fact that it always ended up playing and rough housing. What I enjoyed the most about the Cub Scout meetings was the running, jumping, and wrestling. More to the point is the fact that I enjoyed winning. I usually ended up in the front of the pack in most things we’d play.
I can’t remember the new kid’s name, but I remember his face like it was yesterday. He was tall, slim, and very quiet. As we headed out for what the Den Mother called a nature walk, all of us knew it would turn into a foot race.
Sure enough, once we got off the road into that littered with trash wash, the race began. I was leading the rest of the little Scouts by a ways when I heard the new kid coming up behind me.
I looked back, surprised my leadership was about to be tested. I started running for all I was worth… I guess I wasn’t worth enough that day, because my effort couldn’t buy me what my heart desired.
Those long legs began to pull ahead and away from me. In shock, surprise, and disappointment, I did what most abnormal kids would do at the time… I spotted an old metal coffee pot half buried in the sand of that polluted nature walk. I quickly, in stride, scooped up the old coffee pot and threw it at the new, soon to be champion as he was pulling away.
The filthy coffee pot hit the kid in the calf area of his left leg in a back stride, he stumbled… But didn’t fall, he just kept running as fast as he could.
The kid wasn’t even mad, standing waiting for me in the front yard of the Den Mother’s house. I was unapologetic… The Den Mother told my mom I wasn’t allowed at the next Den meeting… I never went back…I was a bad boy scout.
The emotions of humans, outside the heart and will of God, can be remarkably ugly.
Philippians 2:3- a, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.” (NIV)
I’ve come a long way since the days of my youth, but like Stan, I struggle with my own issues. In some ways, I’m still like that little punk who wanted to win at all costs.
I’m still prone to take the desire and gift from God, this time in the form of writing, and pollute it like that old wash I ran through as a kid, all in the name of winning…
May the words I use in all writings come from a heart for God and bring Him and my family honor, not myself…
bill (cycleguy)
Friday, September 14, 2012 @ 2:39 am
Comment on last line: And so they do.
Comment on Stan: he missed it.
Floyd
Friday, September 14, 2012 @ 7:06 am
Thanks Bill. I appreciate the kind words. You’re a good guy, but I guess you already know that!
Jay Cookingham
Friday, September 14, 2012 @ 6:28 am
Well,,,I have a few “Stans” in my life and times that I have been very “Stanish”. Thank God for grace eh bro’? Thanks for sharing your heart with us dude!
Floyd
Friday, September 14, 2012 @ 7:07 am
Amen Jay, it’s all about His grace. And yeah, it just takes some of us a little longer to get it! Although I’m certain you got it long before me! Thanks brother.
Dan Black
Friday, September 14, 2012 @ 10:21 am
I think “Stan” people can help when done with love and care. Sometime we need people like that to tell us the truth. Great thoughts.
Floyd
Friday, September 14, 2012 @ 10:30 am
Thanks Dan. I agree. Although I’m pretty sure after over 52 minutes that maybe wasn’t the case! Either way, I’m not perfect and he’s still a decent guy, just not perfect like all of us! In the end, we try, but only God can make the difference.
Jason Stasyszen
Friday, September 14, 2012 @ 12:21 pm
I’m with you, there is a point where you move beyond trying to tell the truth to degrading a person. I don’t think that’s what Paul had in mind when he told us to “speak the truth in love.” Thank God for His compassion and redemption for all those negative situations. Glad you keep writing and encouraging and challenging us, Floyd. You are much appreciated, my friend!
Floyd
Friday, September 14, 2012 @ 1:27 pm
Thanks Jason. I know for sure God has blessed me due through writing with people like you. Just goes to show the omnipotence of our Father. I always appreciate your kind words and appreciate you and your heart, God uses it in more ways than you know.
Hazel Moon
Friday, September 14, 2012 @ 5:24 pm
There have been a few times when I was left with my heart in my mouth, wondering what I had done now. Your long legged new friend out ran you and your den mother was in her rights to give you a time out. You chose to make it longer. I too have chosen the long way more than once. Actually it worked out for good. I wouldn’t be writing a blog these days, if I had not made certain choices. Perhaps one of these days I will write about it.
Floyd
Friday, September 14, 2012 @ 5:35 pm
Thanks Hazel. I hear you, you and I are a lot alike, of course I might be giving myself a little more credit than I deserve! I’d love to read that story… you have a way with them my friend…
Nancy K.
Saturday, September 15, 2012 @ 8:42 am
Hmmmm…Well….I know that sitting through someone else’s spiritually prideful tirade could not have been much fun. My experiences have been with both “spiritual” mentors and worldly. One professor critiqued me in much the same way. The difference was that she didn’t debase me or get personal, except to say that she knew I could do better…that telling a story was an art and one could not simply put stream-of-consciousness chatter on a page or pen it as it would be spoken. My take-away was that those two forms were not engaging to the reader. Okay, so I would work on presentation.
Out of the abundance of Stan’s heart, he spoke. It was unfortunate that he could not have been more encouraging and asked a few questions and then provide some guidance in what he thought you should be doing.
Yes, the human heart is deceitful and desperately wicked – but God’s kids have the ability change their hearts and then to let God be greater.
Your written communication has very much reflected the lessons and the love of God. Thank you for not giving up but for continuing to hone your skill and expression. It is a blessing!
Floyd
Saturday, September 15, 2012 @ 9:04 am
Thanks Nancy. What caught me off guard was his maturity level. There really should have been no response other than he truly didn’t feel led to read it, and since he didn’t, I’m not sure what the point was, other than maybe he was having a bad day. It’s been a while since that happened and the main reason I reposted it was due to me reminding myself of my shortcomings and the heart I was born with. I hope in the end to point to our Father as the source to live above our dreadful flesh. You truly have a way of wrapping things up nicely in wisdom. It is much appreciated.
tcavey
Monday, September 17, 2012 @ 5:07 am
Wow, I can’t imagine you doing that. But we were all kids and did things like that. Unfortunately some of us are still kids. While we may not through physical things, we let verbal arrows fly.
Thanks so much for sharing. You have come a long way! God bless you and your blog. It touches many lives.
Floyd
Monday, September 17, 2012 @ 6:46 am
Thanks TC for the kind words. Yeah, we all have our weaknesses. The interesting part is that even our strengths in time can become our weaknesses…
Audra Krell
Monday, September 17, 2012 @ 11:59 am
Stan’s gonna be sad one of these days when your wonderful words are published and he had nothing to do with it, except making you stronger! Maybe he’ll deserve a place on your acknowledgement page, under my name of course.
Yes we must be careful with the rusty coffee cans we fling at others, we can do permanent damage to the spiritual, emotional and physical people we are called to love.
Floyd
Monday, September 17, 2012 @ 5:11 pm
Nice one Audra! I think your name will be such large print there won’t be any room for Stan’s!
Yeah, flinging coffee cans isn’t exactly prudent is it? I should consider doing, A Dummies Guide To Wisdom!
Mike
Wednesday, September 19, 2012 @ 12:44 pm
Well Floyd, it sounds like you have come a long way in being able to deal with a 52 minute tirade. I’ve come a long way in my life, but don’t know what I would have been able to deal with it with the same maturity you did. I always enjoy your stories from childhood. You have a unique way of sharing some important lessons.
Floyd
Wednesday, September 19, 2012 @ 3:30 pm
Thanks Mike. I share the simple stories because they’re the easiest thing for me to relate to and most of us have some common themes in life… not to mention that I’m a pretty simple guy in the end. I sought not to be, but in the end, God has given me peace in it. I appreciate your time and input, Mike!