This past week I was on a hunting trip in Northern Arizona. I had traveled to Mormon Lake in search of capturing a prize elk with my bow and arrows. As a child my Father introduced me to archery and even went so far as to set up a small shooting range in our back yard. I feel so bad for our next door neighbor Kay…I wonder how many times she narrowly escaped death as a misguided arrow zipped past those small bails of hay, over the fence and into her backyard as she worked diligently on trimming her rhododendrons. Archery eventually gave way to the rifle and soon I had forgotten about that ancient bow, those small targets at 30 yards and had moved on to loud bangs, hot ammunition and the 300 yard target. Many a deer met it’s maker under the cross hairs of Jeremy Dyck.But, where had the challenge gone? Was it so hard to spot a large target at 300 yards, drop an eyepiece on it that made it appear larger than the state of Texas, then squeeze a trigger and claim the prize? This last week I returned to my first love…archery…I may have come back from my hunting trip empty handed, but I did learn a lesson or two.
During a recent quiet time, I once again read a passage in Psalm 127: Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them… I found it very interesting that this analogy would be used, but as I thought about it more, I realized the correlation between fatherhood and the arrow…
The arrow is made up of several parts, the shaft, the fletchings, the nock and the broadhead. Each of these parts must be kept in pristine condition in order for the arrow to do as it must. The shaft of the arrow must be straight, without crack or dent. If any crease or dent appears in the shaft, the wind resistance will change the flight pattern of the arrow and send it off target. The fletchings, (the feathers or plastic tabs near the back of the arrow) give the arrow its ability to fly straight. If one is torn, the arrow will falter in every direction, causing the arrow to miss the mark. The nock, (the part that holds the arrow to the bow string) must be set perfectly, allowing the fletchings to align themselves correctly with the rest of the bow. If a nock is offset, the fletchings will strike the bow and send the arrow off course. And finally the broadhead, (the tip)…it must be sharp and straight in order to pierce the target and not be thrown astray. Each of these components must be maintained in order for the arrow to be effective. And then there’s the warrior…a skilled warrior must know how to maintain and construct the arrow in order for it to be used effectively. An unskilled bowman may be able to draw back the arrow, but more than likely will not use a functioning arrow, nor will he know how to aim the mechanism that gives the arrow it’s strength in flight. The arrow would be shot in vain and would never even come close to achieving it’s desired goal.
So, as a father, what am I doing to construct and condition my arrows….Max and Clay? Am I praying for them? Am I teaching them to pray? Am I filling their minds with pure things? What is on the TV during the day? What music am I exposing them to? What environments am I introducing them to? What language am I using while I am around them? What attitudes do they learn by watching and listening to me? How will they treat women as they watch me interact with my wife…their mother? Am I spending time with them…perfecting these details? When it is time for them to launch, will their path be straight? Will each component that gives them flight be just as it should? Will I have done my job as a skilled warrior?
The arrow…so simple yet so complex. God, teach me to be a skilled warrior and help me to take precious care of the weapons you have entrusted me with. Oh, and while you’re listening God….next time…I’d like to get an elk too!
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