While in my early twenties I had an opportunity to witness a great American boy scouting tradition. I was a new scout master in an urban scout troop in St. Louis city. After attending a week of summer camp, I witnessed the awesome and inspiring Order of the Arrow Ceremony.

The Order of the Arrow is an exclusive, honorary society of the boy scouting program. Boys belonging to this league, have special privileges and status among all scouts worldwide. These young men represent the best of scouting, camping and survival. Few scouts have a chance to become a member of the Order of the Arrow (OA). These young men are rewarded perfectly white sashes with a brilliant red arrow darting upward across their chest, representing their bravery and dedication. This is one of the greatest honors of scouting. In some ways, it is more widely admired than the well known Eagle Scout. It is a mysterious and exclusive society of young people, who have earned the privilege of becoming OA.

On the last night of camp the staff, comprised primarily of high school boys, hosted an elaborate ceremony. The ceremony, which to my understanding, has been performed the exact same since the early years of scouting. In the dark of night, nearly 300 campers and their leaders were gathered at the lake?s edge. On the far side of the lake, scouts who were recommended for the order by their leaders, were lined up and blind folded. They stood facing their leaders and younger less experienced scout members. They were overseen by older boys, OA members, dressed as Native Americans in animal furs; foxes and bucks, buffaloes and bears. These striking young men towered over the candidates; holding brilliantly lit torches, that accompanied the stars in lighting the night. I remember how the fire reflected off the waters to create a mysterious discomfort that night.

There was complete silence for the first time all week. No one would predict that there were over 200 young boys present that night. Everyone watched in anticipation. The silence was suddenly broken by a rhythmic drumming from deep within forest. The drumming sound bounced through the trees and across the waters. The young candidates were paraded to the water?s edge. I could hear their hearts pounding across the distance.

As the boys stood, the drumming stopped. At that moment a resounding voice rippled across the lake. I could hear names being called, ?Joshua Mathews, YOU HAVE BEEN CHOSEN!? ?James West, YOU HAVE BEEN CHOSEN!? As the boys? names were called, they were violently pulled from the line and taken off into the deep forest. Only a 10th of the boys? names were called.

The boys who were chosen were whisked off into the woods where they would spend the night alone. They would receive a sleeping bag, a small ration of food and basic supplies for surviving the night and the next day alone. This process is referred to as being ?Tapped Out.? It must have been some experience for those boys being suddenly dropped in a remote location in the middle of the night. The fear and uncertainty, of this strange and unfamiliar circumstance could be a bit overwhelming.

It would be beneficial for adults to recall these challenges when faced with the trying moments of life. When we find ourselves faced with the darkest of circumstances, possessing only the most limited resources available, we can know that we have been prepared. We have had the training and experience necessary to make it through the night. This is the time for us to recall all that we know about survival. Like those boys lift alone for the night in a strange and unfamiliar world, we have to find comfort in the uncomfortable. We must hunker down, find our peace and wait for the sun to rise.

Remember, in the morning there will be people on the other side of the lake waiting for you to emerge victorious. Be confident through your night that you are becoming a part of a select group of people who have been chosen for this challenge.