I've trained him for this!

Last night Penny and I attended another banquet that saluted our 16 year old for making Eagle Scout.  The first banquet was a small district event and had a cozy, family feel to it.  This was the South East Louisiana Council banquet.  There were 115 Eagles in attendance and over 500 total people.  It was held at the Pontchartrain Center in Kenner.  The banquet room was massive enough to hang a fifty foot American flag.  I don't love big crowds but after all, he is my Son and I'm very proud.  So what's the small price of enduring a massive banquet?

The problem started at the registration table.  The lady with the list found our names quickly.  Then stated, "Mr. and Mrs. Bordelon, you will be at table #40 and your Son will be at table #24.  Thank you and enjoy the banquet."  I was shocked by my horrified reaction.  Why, oh why are they taking my Son away.  Surely, this is some mistake.  Obviously, some evil, socialist faction has infiltrated the BSA upper echelon and plotted to harvest our best and brightest!  I was in sheer panic mode.  I quickly found one of the district executives and questioned him.  He explained to me that my Son was one of three Eagles selected to sit at a table with two BSA District Executives, the Vice President of the SELA Executive Council, the Chief Administrator of the Kenner Police Department, and the Scout Executive of SELA.  And for some reason I still was not at ease.

As the night progressed, I watched my Son from my seat at table #40 (boondocks).  He carried on conversations with all these higher ups.  He saluted the flag when others forgot to.  He volunteered to escort a Webelos in receiving his Arrow of Light.  He was a complete success and carried himself with class and dignity all the while I'm sitting out at table #40.  Then it dawned on me, I've trained him for 16 years.  He is ready to take on the whole world. (including the higher ups)  What has been instilled in him can not be removed.  He is the success I've been hoping for, all these years.  But it's hard to take your hand off the wheel.  It's hard to step back and not fret.  So I guess this begins the next step in life? To let your Son be his own Man yet, know that all that is in his foundation was laid there by you.  Apparently, this is one of those, easier said than done things.

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6

PS.  Me and my district executive will be having a conversation about being stuck out at table #40!