PRAYERS & POEMS FOR SCOUTERS

Our God and God of our fathers.

We gather as loyal members  of our Cub Scout Pack and we pray for thy blessing

Give us the vision to see our duty and the courage to perform it.

Teach us to walk together in the spirit of brotherhood

so that we are true to thee who art the Father of all,

Guide us and guard us so that we shall be faithful sons of the righteous God who is from everlasting to everlasting. Amen.

Quotes from Native Americans

"Treat the earth well: it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children. We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children."

Ancient Indian Proverb

"What is life?  It is the flash of a firefly in the night.  It is the breath

of a buffalo in the wintertime.  It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset."

The Great Spirit is in all things, he is in the air we breathe. The Great Spirit is our Father, but the Earth is our Mother. She nourishes us, that which we put into the ground she returns to us....

Blessed Are the Cub Scouts
National Capital Area Council

Blessed are the Cub Scouts who are taught to see beauty in all things around them. 

For their world will be a place of grace and wonder.
Blessed are the Cub Scouts who are led with patience and understanding... 

For they will learn the strength of endurance and gift of tolerance.

Blessed are the Cub Scouts who are provided a home where family members dwell in harmony and close communion. –
For they shall become the peacemakers of the world.

Blessed are the Cub Scouts who are taught the value and power of truth...
For they shall search for knowledge and use it with wisdom and discernment.

Blessed are the Cub Scouts who are guided by those with faith in a loving God...
For they will find Him early and will walk with Him through life.

Blessed are the Cub Scouts who are loved and know that they are loved...
For they shall sow seeds of love in the world and reaps joy for themselves and others.
AMEN.

100th Psalm of Scouting
National Capital Area Council

Make a joyful noise unto the world, all ye Scouters;

Serve Scouting with gladness, and join the circle of

Scouting with singing.

Know that Scouting is the way;

Its lessons have made us and we are grateful;

We are its leaders, guiding young Scouts.

Enter its programs with a cheerful spirit, and offer boys your praise.

For Scouting is good!

Its lessons endure forever, and its truths to all generations.

Give me the strength to stand for right
When other folks have left the fight,
Give me the courage of the eagle
Who knows that if he will, he can.
Teach me to see in every face
The good, the kind, and not the base.
Make me sincere in word and deed,
Blot out from me all shame and greed,
Help me to guard my troubled soul
By constant, active, self-control.
Clean up my thoughts, my speech, my play,
And keep me pure from day to day.
0, Akela, make of me an Eagle!

Trouble no one about their religion; respect others in their view and demand they respect yours.

--Chief Tecumsah

The Native Way
National Capital Area Counccil

Each morning upon arising and each evening before sleeping, give thanks for the life within you and for all life

Treat every person with respect.

Special respect should be given to elders, parents, and teachers.

Never speak unkindly to another person.

Touch nothing that belongs to another.

Respect the privacy of everyone.

Never walk between people when they are conversing.

Never interrupt people, who are conversing,

Speak in a quiet voice.

Never speak unless invited to do so.

Do not speak of others in a negative way.

Treat the Earth as your Mother.

Respect the beliefs of others.

Listen with courtesy when others speak.

Respect the wisdom of people in council.

The Cricket

A Native American and his friend were in downtown New York City, walking near Times Square in Manhattan. It was during the noon lunch hour and the streets were filled with people. Cars were honking their horns, taxicabs were squealing around corners, sirens were wailing, and the sounds of the city were almost deafening. Suddenly, the Native American said, "I hear a cricket."

His friend said, "What? You must be crazy. You couldn't possibly hear a cricket in all of this noise!"

"No, I'm sure of it," the Native American said, "I heard a cricket."

"That's crazy," said the friend.

The Native American listened carefully for a moment, and then walked across the street to a big cement planter where some shrubs were growing. He looked into the bushes, beneath the branches, and sure enough, he located a small cricket. His friend was utterly amazed.

"That's incredible," said his friend. "You must have super-human ears!"

"No," said the Native American. "My ears are no different from yours. It all depends on what you're listening for."

"But that can't be!" said the friend. "I could never hear a cricket in this noise."

"Yes, it's true," came the reply. "It depends on what is really important to you. Here, let me show you."

He reached into his pocket, pulled out a few coins, and discreetly dropped them on the sidewalk. And then, with the noise of the crowded street still blaring in their ears, they noticed every head within twenty feet turn and look to see if the money that tinkled on the pavement was theirs.

"See what I mean?" asked the Native American. "It all depends on what's important to you."

Author Unknown

Native American Code of Ethics!

1. Rise with the sun to pray. Pray alone. Pray often. The Great Spirit will listen, if you only speak.
2. Be tolerant of those who are lost on their path. Ignorance, conceit, anger, jealousy and greed stem from a lost soul.  Pray that they will find guidance.
3. Search for yourself, by yourself. Do not allow others to make your path for you.  It is your road, and yours alone. Others may walk it with you, but no one can walk it for you.
4. Treat the guests in your home with much consideration. Serve them the best food, give them the best bed and treat them with respect and honor.
5. Do not take what is not yours whether from a person, a community, the wilderness or from a culture.  It was not earned nor given.  It is not yours.
6. Respect all things that are placed upon this earth - whether it be people or plant.
7. Honor other people's thoughts, wishes and words.  Never interrupt another or mock or rudely mimic them. Allow each person the right to personal expression.
8. Never speak of others in a bad way. The negative energy that you put out into the universe will multiply when it returns to you.
9. All persons make mistakes.  And all mistakes can be forgiven.
10. Bad thoughts cause illness of the mind, body and spirit. Practice optimism.
11. Nature is not FOR us, it is a PART of us.  They are part of your worldly family.
12. Children are the seeds of our future.  Plant love in their hearts and water them with wisdom and life's lessons. When they are grown, give them space to grow.
13. Avoid hurting the hearts of others.  The poison of your pain will return to you.
14. Be truthful at all times.  Honesty is the test of ones will within this universe.
15. Keep yourself balanced.  Your Mental self, Spiritual self, Emotional self, and Physical self - all need to be strong, pure and healthy. Work out the body to strengthen the mind. Grow rich in spirit to cure emotional ails.
16. Make conscious decisions as to who you will be and how you will react. Be responsible for your own actions.
17. Respect the privacy and personal space of others.  Do not touch the personal property of others - especially sacred and religious objects.  This is forbidden.
18. Be true to yourself first. You cannot nurture and help others if you cannot nurture and help yourself first.
19. Respect others religious beliefs.  Do not force your belief on others.
20. Share your good fortune with others.  Participate in charity.

Terri Jean @ http://www.terrijean.com