Chapter 58 Scout Class - part 5 - The Log - from my book Changes

Chapter 58

Scout Class - part 5 - The Log

There is a log, about 10 inches in diameter and smooth from use, that spans the swim area between the surrounding wooden docks.  This log is only used during scout class, that is the rule.

Knowing we would be sparing with our partner on that log was a scary thought to me.

During the Coyote Tracks week we went to, for families, that is affiliated with Trackerschool, I tried sparing on a log over the water with one of the instructors, Taj.  While on the log I was not afraid, but I could not stop shaking!  I think my body was too full of adrenaline and that was too much for my body to control.

A few months before heading off to Scout class, I decided to practice a few things.  One was to release energy out of the top of my head so I would be able to control my body while on the log.  The other was to set up some balance beams out of 2x6 boards a couple inches off the ground so I could practice balancing and walking on those boards while blindfolded.

So, here’s what happened…

Walking the log had an element of hazing at times.  All the students were standing on the wooden decks around the swim area, with Tom and the instructors occasionally heckling the people on the log.

When it was my turn to step up to the log, I was nervous, and I could feel my adrenaline building, so when I stepped up, and before setting a foot on the log, I pushed my excess energy out of the top of my head so I wouldn’t be so shaky.

Watching me, and looking at the air above me, Tom commented, “Would you look at all that energy.”

… He saw it!  He saw me release my nervous energy.  Once again, he showed me that he can see.

The trick of releasing my energy worked and I was able to cross the log without any shaking, only calmness.

The other challenge was to cross the log blindfolded.  Here was another element of Scout Class I had tried to practice before hand.  My “trick” was to extend my energy out to the landscape to steady myself.  It worked.

Then we did a number of other things like pass our partner on the log without falling and passing our partner blindfolded while on the log without falling.

Later, after we had done some practice fighting with our lances in the main camp, we were battling with our lances on the log; first without a blindfold, then blindfolded.   

Next, as we were blindfolded on the log, we were supposed to sense a weighted ball, hanging by a rope from the trees, coming toward you, so you could learn to feel it coming and duck or hit it away with your hands, and stay on the log.

All the work on the log was something I loathed until I got to participate in it, and then it turned out to be my favorite part of Scout Class, even though I can’t claim to have done very well.