By Richard Mabey Jr.
In February of 1967, I was 13 years old and in the eighth grade at dear old Chapel Hill School. It was at that time that a most wonderful and honorable title was bestowed upon me by the Troop Committee of Boy Scout Troop 170. That honor was becoming a Warrant Officer, in the role of Troop Quartermaster. A job that I took very seriously.
The role of the Troop Quartermaster was multifaceted. As Quartermaster, I was in charge of keeping an inventory of all the troop’s tents, cooking gear and equipment. It was my job to be the leader for tent repair Saturdays that we used to have twice a year in the backyard at the old Mabey Homestead. And it was my job to make sure that all the tent poles were in working condition. And, that every tent had enough tent stakes in each tent’s little stake pouch.
But the truth of the matter is, that at the time, I wasn’t completely happy to be the Troop Quartermaster. Deep inside my heart, I really wanted to be the Senior Patrol Leader. That was the seemingly glorious position.
It was the Senior Patrol Leader who got to run each scout meeting. It was the Senior Patrol Leader who would lead Troop 170 in the big annual Lincoln Park Memorial Day Parade. And, it was the Senior Patrol Leader who would represent the troop at the Saturday evening Commissioner’s Round Table Meeting at both the big District Spring Camporee and the Fall Camporee.
I didn’t realize it at the time, but God had put me in the right position to be the Troop Quartermaster. I learned all so much, in my two years serving as Quartermaster. I kept detailed inventory records of the troop equipment. I led the scouts in the Saturday tent repair days. I kept our troop closet, at Thorpe Hall at Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church, in immaculate condition. I learned to be very organized and to present equipment status reports at some of the Troop Committee Meetings. Being the Troop Quartermaster was not the most grand and glorious position, but it was the very place where God planned me to be, to grow and learn, to become a good leader.
In September of 1969, as I began my junior year at Boonton High School, I became Boy Scout Troop 170’s newest Senior Patrol Leader. I soon learned it wasn’t all glory, but rather a lot of hard work. Leadership is not easy. I can honestly say that I did a fairly good job in my role as Senior Patrol Leader. But paramount to it all, I would have never really been ready for the job of being the Senior Patrol Leader, if I had not grown and learned all so very much that I did in my role as Troop Quartermaster for two years.
Sometimes, God puts us in a position that doesn’t quite match where we want to be at the time. We dream of greater heights. But God, in His infinite wisdom, knows the best place for us to be, in order to learn and grow to prepare for the next higher step in life.
Richard Mabey Jr. is a freelance writer. He has recently had two books published. He currently hosts a YouTube Channel entitled, “Richard Mabey Presents.” Richard may be contacted at richardmabeyjr@gmail.com.