Living Arrows: Straight Shooting

I recently stumbled across another link-up that has inspired a rabbit trail of extra reading and research, though admittedly, part of it was accidental. On Sunday evening, the lesson was from Psalm 122, one of the songs of ascent. These songs were sung on the journey to the temple for the annual feasts. The lesson from verse one, “I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord,”” reminded us that we should look forward to and prepare for each worship assembly as soon as the present one ends. The songs of ascent begin in Psalm 120 and continue through Psalm 134. I continued reading and found Psalm 127 to be particularly fitting for Living Arrows, so I dug deeper. The theme of “raising arrows” is huge in Christian Homeschooling communities! 

Dietrich took archery lessons in the summer and fall of 2019. He continues to develop that skill, though the events of the past year have not allowed for additional lessons. Somewhere in that time, I came across this quote: 

So when life is dragging you back with difficulties, it means that it’s going to launch you into something great. So just focus, and keep aiming. – Paulo Coelho

While that’s a good sentiment, I think a greater analogy exists with roots in scripture. We are called to teach our children. Often in this teaching, it feels like a tug of war at best and a warzone at worst. When we are pulling our children back, let us be sure we are grounding them in the Word of God. Then, when they do launch, they will follow God’s plan for their lives. 

Last summer, Dietrich was signed up to go to a new-to-him church camp, but that didn’t happen. This week, he is there for the first time. It’s not his first time away from home, or even at church camp, but it’s a new place and new people. This afternoon, my friend that is on staff sent me a picture of him leading a prayer during morning chapel. 

He turned thirteen over the weekend and I often think about how little time we have to teach our children and how we have no guarantee of tomorrow. We have only the opportunity to make the most of this moment. Are you launching your arrows with memories of love and joy, filled with confident expectation, or are you pulling them down with anxiety and fear?