Look Out for Yourself?
I get asked, every now and then, why, in an organization that clearly emphasizes service to others, a key part of the oath is “to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.” Is this not a little self centered? The answer is at once simple and complicated. The simple explanation is, “If I can not take care of myself, I am of little use in taking care of others.” In fact, if I can not take care of myself, I become a burden for others.
The more complex answer goes even farther. If you are going to be able to help others, you must not only be able to take care of yourself, you have to develop surplus capacity. You have to be able to take care of yourself and still have left over energy and skills to take care of others. In practice, this means constantly developing new, and maintaining old, skills. It means being aware of how much energy ordinary life demands and maintaining a personal fitness program that prepares you to deliver considerably more. It means taking a look at your life style and asking not only whether or not it is adequate for your personal needs, but whether or not it sets an example for those who are struggling to develop their own moral compass.
In a larger sense, in Scouting, keeping yourself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight is not about what it does for you at all. It is actually about what it does to enable your service to others. Scouting envisions every member going as far as they can along the path that starts at “burden to others”, transitions through “self sufficient”, and culminates in “of service to others”. The fact that being physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight is personally useful is a wonderful side benefit.
So “Look Out for Yourself” and do not feel guilty about doing it. If you do not take care of yourself, others will have to take care of you. And, to the degree you can, go past self sufficiency and push as far as you can in service. There are always those who, on a permanent or temporary basis, need the help. Being prepared to provide the help is anything but self centered.