I walked into Cabela’s to look at tents, sleeping bags, backpacks- you know, all the stuff I’m supposed to be getting to be ready for the World Race. I walked out with a Bear Archery bow and a couple of arrows. I’ve never shot a bow before today, but it looked cool so I thought I’d try it out. When I got home, I took it out into the front pasture. The hay out there looked like good targets. I pulled back and let my arrow fly. The arrow did a couple of summersaults and landed at the foot of the hay bale. Hmm… well, let’s try that again. The next time didn’t do much better, and by the third time I was questioning my life’s choices. Not really, but I did realize that I wasn’t going to be challenging Catniss to any competitions any time soon. After a while, I forgot about how my bad my aim was. I got caught up in the feel of the string beneath my fingers, the leap my heart felt when the arrow swiftly whizzed toward it’s mark. It felt so freeing. I wasn’t analyzing my stance, or reading a book on archery, or hoping my aim was straight on… I was just letting the arrow fly. Sometimes, in life, it feels like I’m doing a couple of summersaults and landing on my backside. Those judgmental thoughts came a little too quickly, I couldn’t give words to my emotions when I needed to, or I went a couple of days without having any good Bible time. I forget that part of living the Christian life is walking in the freedom Christ died for me to have. Not in critiquing my appearance to be sure it meets all social expectations, or reading a book on being the best me now, or hoping that I’m doing enough for others… but just walking in the daily grace He gives. Soaking up the warmth of a good friendship, embracing my successes and failures both as growing opportunities…. Just letting the arrow fly.
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