Paddy Becomes a Scout!

 

Paddy becomes a Scout!

By Pastor Jim Allen

 

I walked into the kitchen, and there he was—Paddy, my sixteen-month-old Golden Doodle, looking like he’d just won a shopping spree at a Scout Jamboree. He had a Scout cap perched lopsided over his floppy ears, and he’d somehow managed to wiggle into a Scout shirt that was stretched so tight I was worried a button might take out a window. (See our Scouting America 375 Recruiting Ad in the newspaper!)

 

He was sitting on the floor, nose buried in the Scout Handbook, trying to turn the pages with a clumsy, hairy paw.

 

“What ya doing there, Paddy?” I asked, reaching for my coffee.

 

“I’m signing up, Dad! I did the math. I’m sixteen months old, which means in human years I’m about ten or eleven. That makes me the prime age to be either a Webelos in Cub Scouts or a brand-new Troop Scout! I’m ready for the trail! Do they have a ‘Sheep Herding’ badge? Because I have a lot of family history in that department.”

 

“Well now, hold on a minute, big guy,” I said, trying to suppress a grin. “I’m not sure the Scouts are ready for a member who tries to eat the compass. Besides, I don’t think they let dogs join the troop.”

 

Paddy’s tail, which usually thumps like a metronome, suddenly went still. “No dogs? But Dad, you’re always talking about the ‘Great Shepherd’ (Psalm 23:1). If there’s a Shepherd, shouldn’t there be a sheepdog helping out? I’m just trying to fulfill my ‘Duty to God’!”

 

“Let’s head over to the office,” I sighed. “We’ll talk about it on the way.”

 

When we walked into the office of Trinity Evangelical Church at 505 Mulberry Street, the usual “Paddy Parade” was missing. Usually, he bounds in like he’s leading a cavalry charge, but today he was trudging. His head was down, and the brim of that Scout cap was covering his eyes, making him look like a very hairy, very depressed paratrooper.

 

My secretary, Miss Mary, looked up from her computer and gasped. “Oh my goodness! What happened to Paddy? He looks like he just heard all the squirrels moved out of Mount Vernon!”

 

“He’s pouting, Miss Mary,” I explained. “I told him dogs can’t officially be Scouts. He’s been practicing his ‘Good Turn Daily,’ but so far it just involves turning in circles before he naps.”

 

Paddy let out a long, whistle-like sigh that deflated his whole body and flopped onto the rug with a heavy thud.

 

Miss Mary leaned over her desk, her heart melting. “Oh, look at those eyes! He’s the most loyal boy in Mount Vernon. If the Bible can have dogs under the table waiting for crumbs (Matthew 15:27), surely our Church can have a dog in the Scouts! What if he becomes an Honorary Scout?”

 

Paddy’s head popped up so fast his cap flew off. “Honorary? Does that come with a sash? Because I’ve already been studying the ‘Scouting in the Bible’ section! Think about it, Dad! A Scout is Trustworthy, right? Like Caleb and Joshua when they went to scout out the Promised Land (Numbers 13:30). They were brave and loyal—just like me! And a Scout is Helpful. Remember the dogs that licked the sores of Lazarus? (Luke 16:21). They were providing first aid! Okay, maybe that’s a bit gross, but it was ‘Service to Others’!”

 

Miss Mary giggled. “He’s got you there. And what about being Reverent?”

 

“That’s the best part!” Paddy said, his tail starting to thump again. “I know how to ‘paws’ and reflect. Every morning I give thanks for the ‘Green Pastures’ (Psalm 23:2), for my ‘Pack’—including Grandma Carol and the twelve grandkids—and for my ‘Daily Bread’ (Matthew 6:11). Even the Psalmist said, ‘Let everything that has breath praise the Lord’ (Psalm 150:6)—and I’ve got some pretty heavy breath after a long walk!”

 

I looked at Miss Mary, then back at the dog in the tight shirt. Both of them were giving me the ‘guilty Doodle eyes.’ “Alright, Paddy. If Caleb could scout out Canaan, I suppose you can scout out the fellowship hall for dropped cookies.”

 

“So, how do I join, Dad?” Paddy asked, his tail hitting the floor like a drum solo.

 

“Listen close,” I said. “For you—or any interested GIRL or BOY in Mount Vernon—all you have to do is show up right here at Trinity Evangelical Church, 505 Mulberry Street. I just talked to Scoutmaster Joe and Cubmaster Mersadys, and here is the schedule for Scouting America 375:

• For the big kids (Ages 11 to 18): Troop 375 meets every Monday night at 6:30 PM. You can talk to Scoutmaster Joe directly.
• For the younger kids (Grades Kindergarten to 5^th): Pack 375 (Cub Scouts) meets every Tuesday night at 6:00 PM. You’ll want to talk to Cubmaster Mersadys.

 

“And hey, Paddy,” I added, “tell the parents that if they can’t make those times, they can just stop by the Church Office right here between 8:30 AM and 2:30 PM, Monday through Friday. Miss Mary can give them an application to enroll their children in the age-appropriate group. If they have more questions, they can call the office at 812-838-3805 for additional info.”

 

“Yes!” Paddy yelped. “I’m going to tell every kid I see: Mondays with Troop 375 at 6:30pm with Scoutmaster Joe or Tuesdays at 6:00pm with Cubmaster Mersadys, or see Miss Mary during the week to sign up in the Church Office between 8:30am and 2:30pm M-F! My motto is officially ‘Be Prepared... for Naps and Snacks!’ I hope Miss Mary, gives an Honorary Scout like me a badge for ‘Advanced Ear Scratching’?”

 

“Paddy? Did you know Miss Mary is also a Scout?” I asked.

 

“You mean GIRLS can be scouts?” Paddy replied quizzically.

I said, “Haven’t you been listening? Scouting America is for GIRLS and BOYS! And guess what, there is a Merit Badge for ‘Dog Care.’ You can help the girls and boys get their ‘Dog Care’ merit badge.”

 

“Well you know that would me a lot of belly rubs… right Dad?” Paddy asked.

 

“As many as there are kids!” I replied.

 

“I can’t wait!” Paddy barked while running Zoomies around the Church Office.

 

Pastor Jim Allen is the shepherd of Trinity Evangelical Church, the Scouting Church of Southern Posey County. Home of the Scouting America Family “The Mighty 375!” Pastor Jim invites all GIRLS and BOYS to join our Scouting program which includes Christian training. Also, Pastor invites you to come and check us out each Sunday for worship at 10:10 AM. Remember this is Lent and Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday, March 29^th and ends on Easter, April 5^th. Contact the Church Office for our Holy Week events!