The Scout Oath is a Path to a Great Life
Contrary to many of the messages in our culture these days, the Scout Oath clearly lays out a way to live a daily life that is meaningful and productive, not just for one’s self, but for society as a whole. A Scouter or Scout that follows the oath becomes a dearly needed member of functioning society.
Like many things that are often repeated, the Scout Oath can become just words we say as Scouters and Scouts. Yet, the Scout Oath is short, succinct and full of meaning that is important for our world today.
What is an Oath?
Let’s start with the definition of an oath. According to Merriam-Webster, an oath is “a solemn usually formal calling upon God or a god to witness to the truth of what one says or to witness that one sincerely intends to do what one says”.
On My Honor
When we repeat the Scout Oath, we are making a solemn promise to do what we say. In other words, the Scout Oath is a solemn promise to do what the Oath contains. This is why the Oath starts with the words, “On my honor I will do my best to do”. Stop and think about that. You are making a promise to do something without being watched or scrutinized. This is a 24/7 type of promise, whether anyone is around to see your actions or not.
My Duty to God and Country
Scouters and Scouts, pursuant to the Oath, are promising to do their duty. Because this is a solemn promise, duty means an obligation or responsibility. Once you take the Oath, you no longer have an option. You now have an obligation to do your best to perform your duty to God and country. God and country are high callings that go beyond self-gratification. Such callings are all to often missing in today’s world. Scouting is an important bulwark in keeping society on an even keel.
Obey the Scout Law
The key word here is obey. To obey someone or something requires humility. Humility is not a weakness, but a strength. It takes real courage to be humble. You do not do your duty to seek recognition, monetary gain or power, but because you choose to obey the Scout Oath and follow the Scout Law. The Scout Law lays out the way we help others at all times.
Physically Strong, Mentally Awake, Morally Straight
If we, as Scouts and Scouters, do not work to keep ourselves physically strong and mentally awake, we will not be able to fulfill our solemn obligation to obey the Scout Law. School, working on merit badges, competing in sports are all ways to stay strong and awake.
The idea being “morally straight” is becoming harder and harder to define in our world of growing relativism. However, I think there are certain fundamental truths about behavior in our world. I do not profess to be an expert philosopher, but I suggest that this line from the United States Constitution is a good place to start in defining fundamental truths:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
You might find fundamental truth in the Judeo-Christian Ten Commandments or other traditional definitions of morality. To adhere to such fundamental truths in daily living leads to being morally straight.
A Way of Life
In the end, the Scout Oath is a solemn promise to live life in a defined way. Certainly, we are human and subject to failing. That is why the Oath contains the words “do our best”. But, I think, if we do our best to live a life according to the Scout Oath, we live a life that fulfilling and meaningful. All together now…
On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.
Paddle On. Be Free.
