Muscle Memory

Life Lessons Found in Archery Target Practice

Romans 12:1-2 (Amplified Bible)
1I APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.

2Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].

By the way my shoulder feels I can tell it is almost hunting season again. I have tried to take a day or two for the last several weeks to knock off the rust of not shooting a bow since last season. I have to say, I was really impressed to see that my first shot at the target would have been a great shot if I were drawing on a deer. But, as I continued to practice my shoulder became very shaky and weak. It only took probably a dozen or so shots for my shoulder and my back to feel as if I had just taken them through a serious workout routine at the gym.

The first shot was good because I took time to recall all the things you are supposed to do when shooting. I remembered the placement of the string across my chest. Then I focused on the placement of my face on the string. I looked through the sight guide and centered the main sight. I made sure my hand was not gripping the handle of the bow. Took a few calming breathes. Then I fired. Bullseye! The second and third shot was pretty good as well. I had a nice tight pattern and was happy with the first round.

However, as I felt my arms begin to tire my shots got worse. And I became more frustrated. I began to not focus on the process of shooting I explained a minute ago. I felt my muscles beginning to memorize a poor shooting posture. I have heard it said before that “practice makes perfect.” I have always struggled with that statement. I know in light of God that I will never be perfect, no matter how much I practice something. Then one day I heard someone say, “Practice makes permanent.” And that made complete sense. And it was exactly what I was experiencing. The more I shot tired and allowed my muscles to determine what I could do, the worse the shots got and the more permanent my shooting posture became. So much so, that the next time I picked up the bow to shoot my posture went to the place it remembered most, where I left off the day before.

Life is much the same way. We set out living in such a way that pleases God. We start by truly desiring to love God for who He is. We focus only on who He is. We spend time reading His word. We spend time talking with Him. We place ourselves in the presents of others doing the very same thing. And not matter what happens in life we are walking with the Lord and growing in who we are. As we look back at the week or the month we see a pretty cool pattern, one we are pleased with. And even more importantly, one that God is pleased with.

But, sometimes things happen and we grow tired. We begin to focus on life in our own strength, or the lack there of, and frustration sets in. The next thing that happens is “our posture” changes. We look back over the week or the month and a new pattern of thinking has developed. And it is then we begin to struggle seeing God, both in His word and the way in which He is working all around us.

The challenge set before us in this passage is to daily seek to grow in our understanding of who God is, and then daily seek to grow in our understanding of who we are (in light of who God is), and finally (taking a few calming breathes) begin to live our lives. Bullseye! As we live consistently and purposefully aiming our attention at the only real target (God) in our lives we will see a “tight pattern” that pleases Him.

-Jeff Walton
Swamp Jumper Ministries