Eagle Charge for Charles Givens
There was once an Eagle’s nest on the top of a mountain. A strong wind dislodged an egg in the nest and it fell into a busy chicken farm. A hen saw the Eagle egg and, and although she thought it was funny looking she felt it was her duty to see that it would hatch.
She sat on it as faithfully as did her own eggs and sure enough it hatched. Out came a bird with a big beak, huge wings, and very big feet.
So the Eagle grew up alongside the rest of the chickens thinking it was a chicken and consequently it walked like a chicken, it thought like a chicken and dreamed like a chicken. All he ever aspired to do was to get on top of a post and crow like a rooster. But he never did because he remembered chickens don’t fly- he didn't think it was possible.
One day, a huge shadow floated over the chicken yard. The bird looked up and saw a huge eagle soaring through the sky.
What are you? He yelled at the bird. What am I? Came the reply, what are you? I am a chicken the bird answered modestly. A chicken? The Eagle scoffed, Look at me, you look just like me and I am no chicken. I am an Eagle and so are you. Flap your wings.
The Little bird looked up in shock and instinctively flapped his wings. And something marvelous happened. Without really trying he lifted off the ground. Before long, he was souring above the chicken yard to the astonishment of the chickens below.
As an Eagle Scout you to have lifted yourself off the ground. You like the young Eagle, have learned your potential. You've also learned those things that are really important. To paraphrase the great scene from Spiderman “With great potential comes great responsibility.”
You have made decisions on how you conduct yourself each day. Charles, whether you are aware of it or not, you've decided what counts. To me, the Boy Scouts is more than just an outdoorsman club that teaches you how to camp and canoe. To me, the Scouting experience is a teaching tool. The things you learned in scouting you will incorporate into daily living to be a better person. I believe that the Scout Oath and Laws are universal and are applicable at age 16, 46 or 86.
My charge to you is to not just remember your Scout Oath and Laws but rather to incorporate them in your daily actions. My charge to you is to think about them every day- if only for a few minutes. All of the Scout Laws should be reviewed on a frequent basis. The end result of your review is converting these ideas into actions. It is not enough to learn them and never study them again. It's amazing how short our memories are.
And so I ask you Charles to stand at attention and repeat after me.
I reaffirm my allegiance to the three promises of the Scout Oath…I thoughtfully recognize and take upon myself… the obligations and responsibilities of the rank of Eagle Scout…On my honor, I will do my best… to make by training and example…my rank and my influence… count strongly for better citizenship… in my troop…and in my church… and in my community, and in my contacts with other people...To this I pledge my word of honor…Two!
harles I'd like to share a story with you about chickens and eagles.