Eagle Scout Court of Honor

Tuesday night we had the pleasure of taking a few hours to celebrate the amazing accomplishments of our newest Eagle Scout.  It was a fantastic ceremony, and we kept the party going with swing dancing and pancakes back at our house.  Below is the speech I gave in Rex's honor.

It was a night to remember.

We are so happy to have you all here in the midst of this busy and holy season of Christmas. Thank you for coming. Rex, you began scouting shortly after turning eleven. Here we are, seven and a half years later, and you have achieved the goal of Eagle Scout. Congratulations, son. You have done very well.

There are skills and experiences you will take into the rest of your life as a result of your work in scouts. There are knots and lashings, swim strokes and orienteering, hiking and wilderness survival. You know to protect cinnamon rolls from raccoons, to always expect rain on a campout, and to carry plenty of water up Half Dome. But there are some things that are woven through scouts, subtle enough that they might not be noticed. I would like to point a few out.

The first is that the details matter. Any young man who has prepared his Eagle Scout binder for his Board of Review knows this. You must have everything imaginable, and a few things you didn’t imagine, all in perfect order. As it turns out, life is full of details that matter. They impact how you care for those around you, how you serve your community, how you worship, how you work. The key is in knowing the details that matter, which means we need God’s wisdom, and His grace. You have seen God’s hand at work through these seven years of scouting, and you know He will be there through each day and every detail. Details matter.

Your Eagle Project at Dad’s school is another example of an important truth: Service matters. Whether providing an outdoor learning environment for students, helping a single mom on her property or stacking cans on the day of the postal food drive, scouts has shown you that serving those around you is important. You are entering into the adult world at a time when the economy is shaking, and people feel lonely and lost. Your world will need people who are willing to serve. You have already been an encouragement to friends and family who are hurting, reminding them that they are loved and that God is there. Thank you for that, Rex. Live a life of service; you won’t regret it. Service matters.

These last seven years you have been in Troop 401, a group of men and their sons who are working together for the goals of scouting. They have shown you that community matters. These fathers are a beautifully diverse group, each one bringing a unique set of skills and experiences. Time together has meant that adventure fun is had, mistakes get made, lessons are learned, and the community sticks together. You have been in a community of people who want God’s best for you, and that is a gift. Whatever community you are a part of, Rex, will be blessed by your gifts and skills. We can’t go it alone: community matters.

So thank you, Troop 401 dads, for being a community for Rex as he has grown up. Thank you for modeling a life of service, for helping him conquer the details in his scouting life. Thank you for modeling the many different ways a godly man can approach life. We appreciate you very much.

Rex, you became an Eagle Scout on our 25th wedding anniversary, and now you are having your Court of Honor on the 26th anniversary of our engagement. We will never forget these dates! I cannot wait to see all that God has for you with the skills and talents He has given you. I love you. Congratulations.