Afraid and Brave Minute

This Minute is meant for Scouts BSA.

Who is more brave - the Tenderfoot that walks to the latrine on a campout at 2am or the Life Scout that rescues a drowning little 6 year old girl?

Bravery doesn't really depend on the Task being done. It depends on the internal challenge overcome to perform the task. That Tenderfoot may have been very brave to walk all alone in the pitch black to the latrine instead of chickening out and using the bushes right next to his tent. That Life Scout may have had no concerns with going into 5 feet of water.

A good definition of Bravery is: "a quality of spirit that enables you to face danger of pain without showing fear."

Being brave is not being unafraid - quite the opposite; fear and bravery go hand in hand. When you are afraid and can still do what needs to be done, now THAT is being brave.

Whether that is saving someone in danger, sticking up for a new kid at school, or telling someone about your beliefs - there are many situations where you can be brave or cowardly. You find out a lot about who you really are when you find yourself in those situations.

One of the bravest things I ever did was getting up the nerve to turn the lights off in my bedroom as a kid, but that's another story. :-)