A few years ago, I wrote a short fable to illustrate this week’s 1st John selection. It was based on the idea that the word “sin” is also an archery term meaning to “fall short” of the target or bullseye.
Here’s the fable and the scripture is just below it.
Two Archers Meet in a Wood
An archer, dressed in brown, entered a vast Wood from the east. Another archer, dressed in green, entered the Wood from the west. The brown archer strode purposefully. He clearly had a destination in mind. The green archer ambled a bit, taking in the beauty of the Wood.
Each moved on a path that brought them to the center of the Wood. At last, they saw each other and stopped. For a few seconds each just looked at the other.
Finally, the brown archer said, "Hello friend. I see you, too, have come to use the King's archery range."
The green archer appeared surprised, looked about, and, for the first time, took notice of the targets off to the north. But, the brown archer missed this reaction, already setting up his gear for the shoot.
The green archer said, "So, this is the King's range?"
"Oh yes!" replied the brown archer. "Do you not know? The King has set aside the whole of His Wood for the pleasure of His subjects. And he encourages us to use the range to improve our targeting."
The brown archer then nocked his first arrow, drew back, eyed the target, and let fly. The arrow flew swiftly across the vast clearing toward one of the targets. At first, the arrow was on course, but at the very last it appeared to lose speed. When it finally struck the target, the arrow rested well below the bullseye.
"Sin!" cried the green archer, a bright grin splitting his face. He was suddenly awakened to the fun he might have here.
Selecting an arrow from his quiver, the green archer quickly nocked it, drew deeply on the bow, and released. In no time, a loud "THUNK" heralded the arrow's arrival across the clearing. But it was not on the target. It wasn't even in the hay bales backing the targets. The brown archer finally saw it, buried to the fletching in a hollow tree.
"Miss," said the brown archer.
"At least it didn't fall short like yours!" crowed the green archer. Then, he grabbed another arrow, set it to string, and pulled even farther back before releasing. This arrow flew even faster than the first, slicing past the targets, over the bales, past the nearby trees, and off into the forest. No sound of its landing was heard.
The brown archer watched, frozen, as the green archer lofted a third arrow high and to the left; a fourth high and to the right; then, turned and sent one through the woods behind them. Finally, shaken from his shock, the brown archer, cried, "What are you doing? You're not even trying to hit the target!"
"Of course not," replied the green archer. "How boring! The fun is in not aiming for the target! I so enjoy the feel of flinging the arrows off at top speed, the flexing of my muscles, and that sense of power! I really don't want to fuss with all that aiming."
The brown archer had heard enough. "Don't you realize there are others in the King's Wood? Your wild arrows could easily hit someone, could maim or kill. We come here so we can practice our aim. This clearing is set up for just that exercise. That's why there are targets. Certainly the King knows we will not always hit the bullseye. I tally many a sin because I am plagued with a weak pull; my arrow often falls short. But no one, not even the worst archer, comes here intending sin. And we never act in a way that might endanger others."
The green archer, not liking this lecture, was no longer enjoying himself. He spoke petulantly, "Well, you’re no fun." Gathering up his gear, he stalked away, continuing his original journey.
The brown archer watched the other bowman disappear to the east. He stood that way for a while, thinking of the wild abandon with which the other had launched his missiles, recalling when he, too, had been the thoughtless archer. Finally, he selected an arrow from his quiver, nocked it along the string, pulled deeply on the bow, eyed the target for a long while ...
And then let fly.
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"All who indulge in a sinful life are dangerously lawless, for sin is a major disruption of God’s order. Surely you know that Christ showed up in order to get rid of sin. There is no sin in him, and sin is not part of his program. No one who lives deeply in Christ makes a practice of sin. None of those who do practice sin have taken a good look at Christ. They’ve got him all backward.
So, my dear children, don’t let anyone divert you from the truth. It’s the person who acts right who is right, just as we see it lived out in our righteous Messiah. Those who make a practice of sin are straight from the Devil, the pioneer in the practice of sin. The Son of God entered the scene to abolish the Devil’s ways." (1 John 3:4-8 The Message)
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PHOTO: Steve Orr
DaySpring’s Friday morning Lectionary Breakfasts are a true pleasure. Join us on Zoom at 8:00. We enjoy the treasures the King has shared with us, luxuriating in each other's company, and tasting the Word to see that it is good.
Contact me for the Zoom link.
NOTE: Zoom allows you to mute the camera if you don’t wish to be seen and to mute the microphone if you don’t wish to speak.
Enjoy the week!
Steve
SCRIPTURES FOR THE COMING WEEK
Third Sunday of Easter (April 18, 2021)Find them here:
Acts 3:12-19
Psalm 4
1 John 3:1-7
Luke 24:36b-48
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