Boy Scout Troop 325 Scoutmaster Minute

Consistency

February 3, 2009
Andy Duprey, Scoutmaster

The 13th point of the scout law!

Not really, but it could be. If you are not consistent, you will not be able to complete the E-Science, Personal Fitness, Family Life or personal management merit badges, as each requires doing something small each day for up to 90 days, consistently each day.

Consistency is required in life.

You must be consistently on time to school, with you pack, homework and lunch., or risk tardy slips, and failing grades

Adults, and some teenagers must consistently be on time for work and ready to work, or risk being unemployed

Then why did Ralph Waldo Emerson say, in his essay Self Reliance, "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds"? Is consistency a bad thing?

Yes and no

If you consistently choose not to challenge yourself, that is not a good thing.

If you consistently show up late for school, that is consistent, but not a good thing.

If you consistently turn in poorly done homework, that is consistent, but not a good thing.

If you consistently run the mile 10-15 seconds quicker each week, that is a good thing.

Consistently showing up at troop meetings is a good thing, but it is just the start.

Emerson meant that holding onto something, just because you always did it that way, is not a good thing.

I challenge you to consistently make the right choices, and do what you need to, when you need to do it.

Thank you and good night scouts.