WHAT I LEARNED WHEN I FAILED
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proceeded to describe its meaning. I managed to get by the seventh and eighth candles by reviewing the first two. But by the ninth candle even the candidates, despite a night without sleep and a day without food, realized that I was hopelessly lost. Their starving condition, however, suggested a thought that seemed meaningful to me at the time. ”Nourishment,” I offered. I cannot recall what virtue I ascribed to nourishment.

Finally, at long last, I reached the 10th candle. I had exhausted every virtue that naturally came to mind. I had nowhere to turn, no place to go physically or mentally. But the ordeal would not end until I had snuffed out that brightly burning candle. In desperation I turned to the one subject always current in a 14-year-old boy’s mind. ”Girls. May we cherish their beauty,” I blurted, as the entire assemblage dissolved into laughter so raucous it rings in my ears to this day. It was a moment of abject failure.

The candidates survived. All of them continued in scouting and went on to productive careers. I was never asked to conduct another induction ceremony, and as far as I know, The Order never adopted Truth, Justice, Motherhood, Brotherhood, Nourishment and Girls as foundation principles.

I recovered, slowly. And I suppose I learned that failure, even total failure, is a part of life. I went on to become an Eagle Scout, attend university, write a book, get a law degree, start a business, and hold the trust of the voters in our community.

Surviving that failure and succeeding as an Eagle Scout has sustained me in the face of many, many failures that have come since.

Failures pass. Achievements last.

Andy Van Meter is chairman of the Sangamon County Board.