Dear Brothers,
I had the opportunity this past May to go to NTC. I had heard many
different opinions regarding it and thankfully I went. I noticed that often
times dissenting opinions can sway us from attending such a thing, but I had
to clear my mind, go with an open mind. It was extremely difficult for me to
attend not just financially, but because I'm diabetic with health concerns.
The NTC was held in Maryland, which is in my District, but still it was hard
for me to go because I have limitations that ordinary guys don't have. I
tire out quickly, mostly because of my condition, and a lot of physical
exertion is not recommended all at once. Normally I do not go on hikes, or
lead praise & worship, or do a whole lot of the physical activities. I'm
fully able to do all of these things and I did and it was extremely difficult
for me. But I would suppose that much of it is in the mindset that you have
when you attend. I arrived expecting "Knotty" when I gave them my
registration. My attitude was almost sounding well, kind of defeatist. The
amount of information that I was being taught all at once was in fact hard
for me to absorb it all. I still don't know how to do the eye splice very
well, and if I was asked to do it right now, I wouldn't remember. I had
heard that I was supposed to view it as a regular campout, that had helped me
a lot, and then it was supposed to be from a boys point of view.
I certainly could understand that perspective and perhaps even appreciate
it. Mr., Sr. Guide, Cmdr. Riker (no, not from Star Trek but from S. New
England District) was tough, I must admit, because even as I'm also involved
in the Civil Air Patrol, the USAF Auxiliary, They do not even subject their
kids to such a high standard, and they are a military organization. CAP does
have high standards though.
But I didn't view it as a negative experience, I viewed it as a learning
experience. Having been involved with Royal Rangers for upwards of 6 years
now, I did take NTC from a child's perspective. A human perspective. I
wasn't out looking for anyone to be super Chaplain or something, but I was
just hoping that people could just be themselves and lead the way to conquer
the tasks set before us in a Christian, but not perfect manner. Many of the
guys at NTC came from Spanish Eastern District, so we even did things in
Spanish. The Holy Spirit moved so powerfully there that the whole NTC staff
took notice. As I said, I don't normally lead praise and worship, but God
had me up there with the other brothers leading, and to top that off even in
Spanish and I'm not very fluent. It didn't matter God ordained it and His
will got done there. I was sort of startled by how one of the activities
toward the end (The activity of which shall remain nameless) of the camp was
conducted. I saw the point for it and how it was turned around to express a
point, unfortunately, a point of how things have been observed even at
powwows. A late commander was dealing with the same type of scenario that we
were told not to do at one of our powwows. (the fact that he has passed
really has nothing to do w/ it)
but the point was example. What kind are we setting? Are we the Cmdr to be
feared, or loved? Can we look at the spiritual side of it and see what it is
worth outside of the physical? A boy breaks a bolo tie that belongs to
someone else, do we accuse of him of stealing, call the cops on him and just
go totally overboard, or do we sit down with the child and show him love,
respect, kindness, understanding and get to the root of the problem and
resolve it? The temptation is there to totally blow one's stack over it be a
a real jerk about it, believe me I have seen that, but I know that is the
response of the flesh. Much of the things that were taught to me at NTC were
just a refresher from LTC, but the outpost I was previously with had already
made the subject matter standard operating procedure. Since I'm the SrCmdr
at a new outpost, these things are now put into practice provided I have the
proper things to do it with, if I don't it won't be done for safety issues.
Please let me encourage you, if anything, to take it with an open mindset,
yes you may see things you may not necessarily go for, but it is provided as
a model for us to follow, As a Cmdr, I have been known to exercise Cmdr's
prerogative and cater it to fit the needs of the boys that I have been
entrusted with. Because of the stuff I learned at NTC, my new outpost, one
that has never been taught by me any skills, won a certificate for campsite
excellence at a powwow. God is good! All the time.
May blessings abound!
Mike Burke
_______
To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe rangernet" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
"Eat the hay & spit out the sticks! - A#1's mule" RTKB&G4JC!
http://rangernet.org Autoresponder: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
