The Raven's Call

Tim and I have been very involved in Cub Scouts ever since Theo was in second grade. Tim was the cubmaster for five years until his last illness forced him to step down. Fall was our busy season as we were helping not just with our sons' dens but recruiting new scouts to keep the pack going strong. Every pack event usually ends with something called the Cubmaster's Minute, a time for the cubmaster to slip in a little moral or serious topic. Last fall at our recruiting meeting, Tim closed with a story called The Raven's Call by Robert James Challenger. It is based on a Canadian First Nation folk tale. I was looking at the story to send on to our friend Mark, who has taken over as Pack 85 Cubmaster. It occurred to me that this tale is the perfect response to my post "Taking Stock for the Journey." I want to share with you an edited version of that tale.

The Raven's Call

by Robert James Challenger

Mother and Father were paddling their boat when Raven called to them, "Where are you going?" Father said, "We are going to fish for Salmon." Raven said, "That is not what I meant. I meant where are you going with your life?" Father replied, 'I don't really know. We are always trying to find food for our family and to teach our children the lessons we have learned." Mother added, "We spend all our time just taking care of each other." Raven said, "It sounds to me like you do know where you are going. You have decided that your family is important to you. I know that whatever happens, you will be satisfied with where you end up because you have learned to make decisions based on what is truly important in all our lives, which is caring about others."