There once was a hunter who was hunting with his dog.  There were tracking a mountain lion.  The dog was running ahead of the hunter when all of a sudden, a fox ran in front of him.  The dog decided to stop tracking the lion and started chasing the fox.  After a little while longer, a bunny was startled and came out of bush and the dog started chasing the rabbit.  When the hunter caught up with him, the dog was barking down a small hole in the ground.  He had trapped a mouse.  Each time, the dog decided to chase what was right in front of him instead of going after the prize that he initially started down.  The large game.

I am on a journey, a journey that I’ve been traveling for almost 49 years now.  It has had its ups and downs, twists and turns, triumphs and failures.  Sometimes chasing after the easier thing that was in front of me.

Brian, come up here.  Brian is on a journey.  And he too I’m sure has had his shares of ups, downs, twists and turns, triumphs and failures.

Mark, come up here. Mark is on a journey. And the same goes for him.

Like them, each of you, each of the leaders, each of your parents are all on their own journey in this life making decisions that will take you further down your path.  Some that will be distractions from your longer term goals.

A number of our scouts are reaching critical point in their journey.  What to do after high school.

Others, what sport to play next season or what merit badge to take next on their journey to eagle.

Our webelos guests, are coming to a decision point in their scouting journey.  It may be whether you will be continuing with scouting and for the rest, which scout troop you will join.  And while we hope you will select 167 as the troop you join, we encourage you to make the decision to continue in your scouting career and cross over to boy scouts.  We wish you well regardless of the troop you join.

The decisions you make every day lead you another step down that path of your journey.  Keep the larger goal in mind when you are at a cross-road and take the path that will lead to accomplishing your goal.