It's About The Boys

Why do I do this? I’m 23-years-old and ready to embark on the rest of my life. I should be concentrating on being successful in my career or social standing. I could be thinking about finding a life-partner. I could be going out with friends to the latest and greatest hot spots in town. But I don’t.

Instead, I spend a large portion of my weekend with a ragtag bunch of young Boys as they struggle through their adolescence. I’m there as they struggle through issues of identity, love, heartbreak, friendship, faith… and even death. I try to be there - as a shoulder to cry on, as a listening ear, and as an arm around their shoulders.

Every once in a while, I am given the great privilege to pray with a Boy as he tells Jesus he’s ready and willing for Jesus to be his personal Lord and Saviour. I rejoice with the angels when he says “Amen”.

I do this all for them: The Boys.

But let’s be honest, it isn’t always easy, is it?

Sometimes, the differences between the local Company and its sponsoring Authority cause friction. Sometimes, personalities collide. Sometimes, certain policies clash with local company rules. Sometimes, it’s just politics. It’s sad. Officers have been known to tender their resignations over such matters.

I remember when I was a senior NCO, I had problems with my Staff-Sergeants. There was tension and disagreement between our NCO council and the Staff-Sergeants of the Company. In fact, there were times when shouting matches occurred between us.

One particular friend, and fellow NCO, of mine came up to me one evening and told me that he was planning on resigning. He told me that he couldn’t take any more ‘rubbish’ from the Staff-Sergeants. In fact, in an effort to reconcile with them, he had even apologized first. One of the Staff-Sergeants replied, “Good. I’m glad you realize that.”

My friend was not a Christian then, and this behaviour from his seniors who were ‘Christians’ offended him. I could understand why he wanted resign. But I told him, “If you resign, you will remove the barrier that stands between them, and our juniors. You will let them ‘pollute’ our Boys. We must tolerate them, and let our Boys see better examples of what a leader should be. We must endure for the sake of our Boys.” He stayed on. In fact, he is currently very active in the Boys Brigade overseas.

When we lose sight of the very reasons we do this; when we lose sight of our Boys; when we lose sight of “Why” – we will give up.

As Officers, we will encounter friction – either among fellow officers, or at the State and National levels, or even with our local sponsoring Authorities. It will leave us disappointed, discouraged and even disgusted.

But you know what? Leave it – because that’s not the reason why we are Officers. Leave it – because, at the end of the day, our Boys’ don’t care.

Our Boys’ don’t care about those things. Our Boys care about their exams and school. They care about that girl they have a crush on. They care about the way they look to their friends. They care about their identity as a young person growing up. And they look to us to be there for them – because we said we would.

At our Enrolment Service, we made an oath before God and man that will serve Jesus and our Boys. Not our State or National leaders. Not our pastors or local church authorities. We serve Jesus, and we serve our Boys.

The day we lose sight of that, we might as well turn in our collar badges and call it quits.

Wong Giok Leigh is a Warrant Officer with the 1^st Kuala Lumpur Boys Brigade Company. He has been an active member of the BB since 1991. He is currently away in the US pursuing his Masters Degree. He always appreciates feedback and can be reached at this blog.

Originally published: 23 January 2003