I'm not much of an archer these days. Old shoulder injuries make it a bit tough to pull even the new compound bows. But it's a sport I admire from a distance.

Perhaps events from childhood also factor into my being a spectator rather than a participant. You see; around the age of eight or nine I was given a starter kit designed to whet my appetite for the sport. Included was a small bow, several targets and six arrows in a fancy faux leather quiver. It took less than half a day for me to exhaust my store of arrows. One shattered as it made a direct hit on a very unforgiving ancient grapefruit tree. Two of my shiny new arrows went through the paper target and buried out of sight in the tall grass at the edge of the yard never to be seen again.

With childish lack of forethought I entered into a contest with a visiting cousin about my age to see who could shoot an arrow the longest distance. You're miles ahead of me, I'm sure, wondering what made me think we would ever find any of the arrows shot so far into the neighboring pine forest.

I confess, I was completely amazed at how far my little 25 lb. bow could send one of those expensive arrows! Oh, it was beautiful watching them soar over the trees and out of sight. And the lesson learned about thinking ahead was truly priceless. But sad reality dictated one cannot be much of an archer without arrows.

Hopefully we can all benefit from my expensive lesson. It's really important to consider the consequences of our actions BEFORE we release the arrow.

Be blessed today with maturity and wisdom!

Pastor Richard Orrell