After Ordeal Ceremony - September 2010
When I first got involved in the Order of the Arrow (OA), I was the Director of Youth and Young Adults at a Methodist Church. About a week prior to going through Ordeal, I told a young man who was in my youth group that I was going through Ordeal. He was a member of a scout troop in the town where I lived, and I knew that he was a member of the Order of the Arrow. When I told him I was going to attend Ordeal, he said that it was great that I was excited, but he didn't see the point. All they were doing was getting free labor out of me to make improvements around the camp that is the home of our Lodge. That was my modern day introduction into the OA.
Of course when I was a Scout, I attended summer camp at Camp McKee, and I remember seeing the OA Call Out Ceremony. The Call-Out has changed a lot since then, and the modern version isn't as scary to a 40+ year old like the old version was scary to a 12 year old. When I was 12, the Call-Out Ceremony was referred to as a Tap Out Ceremony. Those who were old enough to get elected into the OA would stand facing a fire. Kichkinet would walk in front the would-be candidates, look deep into their eyes, and if the person was selected, Kichkinet would slap the candidate on the shoulder rather forcefully to "tap" them or call them out so they can go through their Ordeal. I seemed scary to me, and most of what I remember is that I didn't want to get selected by the big scary Indian.
I remember showing up at the camp for my Ordeal in the Fall of 2010. I remember that I didn't have a rain coat, and rain was in the forecast. I remember the first night of the Ordeal I was staying in a campsite with a bunch of other Scouters. I slept on the ground as we were told to do, but when the rain started, we were all told to move to the tents that were still set up from summer camp. We had been told to remain silent, and I did, but I remember that in the campsite close to ours there was a Scout who was making a lot of noise. I remember that early in the morning a member of the Lodge went to the young Scout to tell him that if he didn't keep quiet he would be asked to go home.
My job during Ordeal starting on Saturday morning was to help clean out the ditch from the OA Building to the bottom of the hill. That morning the ditch felt like it was about a mile long, and I guess it had been a long time since the last time it had been cleaned out. It really wasn't that hard of work, but I seem to remember that at the time I thought it was. I remember thinking about how hungry I was, and wondering if I would make it to the end of the day.
Work on the same ditch during Fall Ordeal 2016
According to an American dictionary, an Ordeal is defined as ANY EXTREMELY SEVERE OR TRYING TEST, EXPERIENCE OR TRIAL. I guess my Ordeal was kind of trying. It was hard, but I'm not sure I would have called it extremely severe. I certainly didn't consider my "trial" simply as a version of free labor by the camp, but I wasn't sure I gained any new knowledge out of the Ordeal Ceremony. After getting home from your Ordeal, most of your thinking falls on the work that was completed instead of the ritual that you heard after the work was finished.
Maybe that's why the young man from my youth group had a negative attitude about the OA. I think the young man was not encouraged by this troop to attend OA events after his Ordeal, which therefore made him and the rest of his toop "sash and dash" members of the OA. A definition of "sash and dash" is when someone goes through the Ordeal, but never goes to another OA event afterward. Therefore, their thinking about the OA is on the work that they completed during their Ordeal, and not the beauty of the ritual or the bonds of brotherhood that one forms with other OA members.
Maybe that's why the young man from my youth group had a negative attitude about the OA. I think the young man was not encouraged by this troop to attend OA events after his Ordeal, which therefore made him and the rest of his toop "sash and dash" members of the OA. A definition of "sash and dash" is when someone goes through the Ordeal, but never goes to another OA event afterward. Therefore, their thinking about the OA is on the work that they completed during their Ordeal, and not the beauty of the ritual or the bonds of brotherhood that one forms with other OA members.
Fall Ordeal 2016 - Ordeal Ceremony. The First Step
I finished my Ordeal, and I was initiated into the Order of the Arrow that evening, and I was proud to have my new sash and flap. That sash wouldn't get dirty for 3 more years. I almost became a Sash & Dash member of the OA. At the time I was the father of a two very young Scouts who were not old enough to join the Order of the Arrow. I didn't want to get involved without being able to share the experience with my boys. I paid my yearly dues, but didn't attend any OA Events until my oldest son was able to be involved with me.
In the Spring of 2013, my oldest son was elected into the Order of the Arrow. From the time he went through his Ordeal, I have been active in the OA. In the Spring of 2014, he was eligible to become a Brotherhood member, and I couldn't wait to go through the Brotherhood Ceremony with him. Both of my boys are now members of the OA, and both of them are Brotherhood members.
I had to write a letter to the Lodge Secretary to be able to go through Brotherhood. Since I emailed my letter, I still have a copy:
In my efforts to become a Brotherhood member in the Order of the Arrow, I’d like to tell you what our Obligation means to me. I believe that the obligation is a reminder for me to remain cheerful in my service to others even when it is difficult to do so. I am the director of a homeless shelter, and my job is service to people.... Sometimes it is difficult to remember to be cheerful during stressful situations, but the last words of my obligation to the OA are often running through my head…unselfish in service and devotion to the welfare to others. These words often help me.
Since I completed the Ordeal.... I served as an Elangomat in 2013....
I gained an understanding by not speaking during the time of Cheerful Service at my Ordeal, and this has helped me in my daily life by performing service to others without trying to draw attention to myself. In addition, I have been able to serve my troop by being serving as the Assistant Scoutmaster, Troop Chaplain, and helping the New Patrol in our Troop by being the Adult Mentor....
I look forward to sealing my membership in the Order of the Arrow by becoming a Brotherhood member. As a Brotherhood member of Kawida Lodge I plan to serve the OA program by serving as a mentor in our troop for OA members, driving to OA events, and assisting with Chaplain duties when needed for Lodge activities.
Yours in Brotherhood,
Andrew F. Baker
ASM – Troop 215
Since I completed the Ordeal.... I served as an Elangomat in 2013....
I gained an understanding by not speaking during the time of Cheerful Service at my Ordeal, and this has helped me in my daily life by performing service to others without trying to draw attention to myself. In addition, I have been able to serve my troop by being serving as the Assistant Scoutmaster, Troop Chaplain, and helping the New Patrol in our Troop by being the Adult Mentor....
I look forward to sealing my membership in the Order of the Arrow by becoming a Brotherhood member. As a Brotherhood member of Kawida Lodge I plan to serve the OA program by serving as a mentor in our troop for OA members, driving to OA events, and assisting with Chaplain duties when needed for Lodge activities.
Yours in Brotherhood,
Andrew F. Baker
ASM – Troop 215
My oldest son and I went through the Brotherhood Conversion together in April 2014. A few weeks before the Brotherhood Conversion, we went to our first Conclave. When we showed up to Conclave, both of us wore our Sash on the wrong shoulder. The person who welcomed us to Conclave said, "Hey look, it's a couple of Newbies."
It was through the Brotherhood Ceremony that I learned about the meaning behind the Order of the Arrow. I reflected on Cheerful Service. I learned about the Burden. It's true that the Order of the Arrow is a youth organization, but in the ceremonies of the Order there are lessons for Adults to learn, and I soaked up the lessons!
Summer Ordeal 2016
In the Spring of 2016, I was asked to become an Associate Adviser of our OA Lodge. I was adviser to a committee position. I was also able to get my Troop more involved in the OA. In the Fall of 2016, I was asked to become an adviser to an officer, and that is when my understanding of the OA took on a new meaning. In fact, my ORDEAL took on a new meaning.
As an adviser to an officer, my position in the OA is a year long position. I need to be at most events for our Lodge. My job is to advise the Scout, which is not the same as doing the job for the Scout since I already know how to do it, or because I'm older. I feel like my biggest job is to encourage the Scout who is my advisee. That includes my Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) as much as my OA advisee.
Two examples come to mind. This past weekend was a Scouting event. My advisee was at a separate event at the same location where the event I attended took place. The Scouts at my event were told to leave the Scouts alone that attended the other event where my advisee was. In the afternoon I was with a couple of Scouts from my Troop when we walking up the path that was beside the building where the event was for my advisee. I saw my advisee and yelled over to him HELLO! He yelled back, "Hey Andrew, come over here for a second." I went over just to say hello to him and the other Scouts at his event.
The same weekend for my Troop ended on Sunday morning. We packed up the Troop Trailer with our gear from the campout. For years we've been fussed at by our committee about the returned condition of the troop trailer after a campout. I've been trying my best to change the way we return the trailer. After it was all packed up this weekend, I asked my SPL if he was satisfied with the condition of the trailer. He is 14 years old. He looked around in the trailer, and then turned his attention to me to say YES, he was satisfied with the condition of the trailer. I never even looked inside for my own inspection.
I didn't have to do either of these things. The SPL doesn't get fussed at then when Trailer is returned in bad shape. But my point was to say that his opinion is important. I trust his opinion. I also didn't have to stop to say hello to my advisee, especially since I was told not to interrupt them. It took 30 seconds to walk by and say hello. I hope it made him feel important, because he is. Hopefully my investment of TIME and TRUST in those to whom I advise will have great meaning to them as they get older.
Two examples come to mind. This past weekend was a Scouting event. My advisee was at a separate event at the same location where the event I attended took place. The Scouts at my event were told to leave the Scouts alone that attended the other event where my advisee was. In the afternoon I was with a couple of Scouts from my Troop when we walking up the path that was beside the building where the event was for my advisee. I saw my advisee and yelled over to him HELLO! He yelled back, "Hey Andrew, come over here for a second." I went over just to say hello to him and the other Scouts at his event.
The same weekend for my Troop ended on Sunday morning. We packed up the Troop Trailer with our gear from the campout. For years we've been fussed at by our committee about the returned condition of the troop trailer after a campout. I've been trying my best to change the way we return the trailer. After it was all packed up this weekend, I asked my SPL if he was satisfied with the condition of the trailer. He is 14 years old. He looked around in the trailer, and then turned his attention to me to say YES, he was satisfied with the condition of the trailer. I never even looked inside for my own inspection.
I didn't have to do either of these things. The SPL doesn't get fussed at then when Trailer is returned in bad shape. But my point was to say that his opinion is important. I trust his opinion. I also didn't have to stop to say hello to my advisee, especially since I was told not to interrupt them. It took 30 seconds to walk by and say hello. I hope it made him feel important, because he is. Hopefully my investment of TIME and TRUST in those to whom I advise will have great meaning to them as they get older.
I do some of these things naturally. However after attending a training at a camp outside of Nashville in March 2017 entitled Developing Youth Leadership Conference (DYLC), my perspective of being an adviser in the OA was totally changed. It also changed my focus of being a Scoutmaster. I feel like I'm a better Adviser and Scoutmaster because of it. The best point from that training for me was one simple line.
EVERY YOUNG PERSON NEEDS ONE CARING ADULT
We watched this video during the training, and it is very powerful.
I have a very good relationship with the Scouts whom I advise, and my advisee in the OA is no exception. I get along with his whole family! His Dad and I are good friends. He is also a Scoutmaster and Associate Lodge Adviser, and the three of us (my advisee, his dad and I) were elected to be members of the 2017 Vigil Honor Class of our Lodge.
I'm once week away from going through the ceremony for Vigil Honor. I really don't know what to expect from the ceremony. I feel like I've learned the lessons I need to learn before I progress to Vigil Honor, and I am ready to take the next step. I'm actually glad I have that foundation that is called an Ordeal.
After receiving my Vigil "cookie" at the 2016 Winter Banquet. This was when I found out I would become a member of the 2017 Tom Peek Vigil Honor Class of Kawida Lodge.
I'm looking forward to wearing that new sash that I will receive when I become a Vigil Honor member of the Order of the Arrow. But to be honest, the meaning of the sash is pointless without the hard work that went into being recognized by those who chose me to wear it. If my character doesn't show you that I'm a Vigil Honor Scouter, then wearing my Vigil sash will have no significance to anyone, especially to me.
I think it's easy for adults to fall into the trap of thinking that this life is all about me!! Me, me, me, and as much of it as I can get! It's really not about you, and the sooner you figure that out, the happier you'll be. The sacrificial giving of yourself and your talents will not only make things better for other people with whom you share your life, it will also change the world. I'm planning on changing my world one intentional relationship at a time.
Looking back at my Ordeal, I realize that what I have done in the Order of the Arrow in the 7 years since then is so much more difficult than those few hours of scant food and strenuous labor during that Ordeal.
I think it's easy for adults to fall into the trap of thinking that this life is all about me!! Me, me, me, and as much of it as I can get! It's really not about you, and the sooner you figure that out, the happier you'll be. The sacrificial giving of yourself and your talents will not only make things better for other people with whom you share your life, it will also change the world. I'm planning on changing my world one intentional relationship at a time.
Looking back at my Ordeal, I realize that what I have done in the Order of the Arrow in the 7 years since then is so much more difficult than those few hours of scant food and strenuous labor during that Ordeal.
I know that I'm capable of greater things; I've been tested.
