What we do in life echoes in eternity!

This past May, I attended the 2001 National Meeting of the Boy Scouts of America. A young man named Evan Todd, an Eagle Scout and hero of the Columbine tragedy, spoke at the closing banquet and later that evening was presented with the BSA’s Young American Award.

As Evan spoke, I was struck by his bravery. The bravery required to heroically help other students after being shot in the face and speak to a room full of 2000 plus adults and share with them some insights that would make them squirm and feel uncomfortable. He said, for example:

“Our nation has always had guns. Our nation has always had children. What our nation hasn’t always had is children killing children or their parents and parents murdering children. The ingredient that has made America different in the past couple of generations is their change in attitude toward what is right and wrong, good and evil. It appears to me that our society is confused.

The adult world seems to be a ship with no rudder, being cast around by the wind and storms of our times, with no control or understanding as to why. Many of these storms appear to have been caused of their own accord. It’s as if our adult society has no compass, no bearing, and no standards for our society. I have found them confused. Even at my age, I can discern the difference between what you say and what you do.”

Evan spoke with great conviction, and I thought to myself…“He reminds me of the character Maximus, the general, in the movie Gladiator, who was faced with the challenge to bring Rome back to the dream held by many when it became a republic.” Like the heroic character he resembled as he stood squarely and defiantly, Evan Todd was urging us to return to the values and the moral compass that made our nation strong.

I took out a calling card and wrote the word “Gladiator” on the back to remind myself of my thoughts at that moment. I intended to write Evan a letter when I returned.

Following the final program, where Evan Todd was awarded the Young American Award, I enjoyed seeing many old friends and the fellowship that follows such events. As I started back to my hotel, I saw Evan standing at the top of the escalator. I walked over to him, introduced myself, and told him how much I enjoyed his speech and how proud I was of his willingness to deliver a much-needed message.

He beamed, and I could see the conviction in his eyes. I remembered the card in my pocket and told him that I thought of the main character in the movie Gladiator while listening to him. I showed him the card with the one word written and asked him if he had seen the movie.

He said that it was his favorite movie. With that look of determination and without hesitation, he perfectly quoted General Maximus as he spoke to his men before the battle with the barbarians. “Brothers, what we do in life echoes in eternity. “

“What we do in life echoes in eternity.” What a noble thought. And what a noble young man who provides a role model for us all and who was thoughtful enough to recall that most significant moment and the essence of a film about character … and then obviously adopt it as a guide for his own life.

I often ask myself, during this most complex and challenging time in our history, do we Scouters recognize the impact on the lives of those touched by Scouting’s values? Do we understand how important it is that we are successful in bringing the very values, upon which this country was founded, into the lives of boys and young men and women? Do we realize the impact we can have on the future of our country and the world as we provide a moral compass for our youth?

Brothers, what we do in life echoes in eternity.

John O. Thurston

Written - August 2001