A Scouter's Prayer

Build me a Scout, O Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak,

And brave enough to face himself when he is afraid;
One who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat,
And humble and gentle in victory...

Build me a Scout whose wishes will not take the place of deeds;
A Scout who himself is the foundation stone of knowledge...
Lead him, I pray, not in the path of ease and comfort,
But under the stress and spur of difficulties and challenge.
Here let him learn to stand up in the storm;
Here let him learn compassion for those who fail...

Build me a Scout whose heart will be clear, whose goals will be high.
A Scout who will master himself before he seeks to master others,
One who will march into the future, yet never forget the past...
And after all these things are his, add, I pray,
Enough of a sense of humor so that he may always be serious,
Yet never take himself too seriously.
Give him humility, so that he may always remember the simplicity of true wisdom,
And the meekness of true strength...

Then I, a Scouter who knew him, will dare to whisper, `I have not lived in vain.'