In Scouting for Boys, Baden-Powell wrote: We aim for the practice of Christianity in their everyday life and dealings, and not merely the profession of theology on Sundays…[1] Baden-Powell believed that Scouting should be independent of any single faith or religion, but still held that spirituality and a belief in a higher power are key to the development of young people.
Dear Lord, Bless all those everywhere who contribute to shape the hearts, minds and bodies of young people everywhere.
[3] For food, for raiment, For life and opportunity, For sun and rain, For water and portage trails, For friendship and fellowship, We thank Thee, Oh Lord.
Amen [6] For this time and this place, For your goodness and grace, For each friend we embrace, We thank thee, O Lord.
For night alone that rests our thought, For quiet dawn that lights our trail, For evening fire that warms and cheers, For each repast that fuels our work, We give thanks, O Lord.
Almighty and everlasting God, By whose grace thy servants are enabled to fight The good fight of faith and ever prove victorious; We humbly beseech thee so to inspire us That we may yield our hearts to thine obedience And exercise our wills on thy behalf.
Help us to think wisely, To speak rightly, To resolve bravely, To act kindly, To live purely.
Let the assurance of thy presence Save us from sinning, Strengthen us in life and comfort us in death.
Teach me that duty is a friend and not an enemy, And help me face even the most disagreeable task cheerfully.
Give me the faith to understand my purpose and life, Open my mind to the truth and fill my heart with love.
Help me to remember my obligation to obey the Scout Law, And give me understanding, so that it is more than mere words.
In all that I do and in every challenge I face, Help me to know the difference between right and wrong, And lead me in obedience on a straight path to a worthy goal.
We treat these activities as fun, but always with a sense of wonder at the thousands of years required to create even the smallest of the features at which we look.
By the Spirits of the Just, Made perfect in their suffering; Teach us in our turn, O Lord; To serve thee as we ought: To give, and not to count the cost, To fight, and not to heed the wounds, To toil and not to seek for rest To labor and not to ask any reward, Save that of knowing that we do thy will.