“Within My Power”
The name Forest Witcraft probably means very little to you. It may as well be “Anonymous” and in fact one of the most shared inspirational quotes of all time is oftentimes attributed to “Anonymous”. But Mr. Witcraft was hardly that.
In the October, 1950 issue of Scouting Magazine, Witcraft, a humble and selfless man who cared deeply about the welfare and future of children, submitted an essay called, “Within My Power”. Witcraft concludes his essay with:
“A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove. But the world may be different, because I was important in the life of a boy.”
Over time, this portion of the essay has been modified to fit the modern day narrative. “Life of a boy” has become “Life of a child”. The entire essay is equally as moving, written by a man who didn’t feel the need to be recognized or viewed as important. Witcraft was more interested in affecting the world by influencing boys to become better men so that they in turn can make their mark on the world.
And in turn, in a modest and low-key way, so would Forest Witcraft. Here is the entire, timeless essay, “Within My Power”.
