A few months back I read this quote, “that it is never the fault of the target when an archer misses the bullseye, it is always the fault of the archer, and that they need to adjust themselves to hit the target etc:”
It raised a whole pile of thoughts for me…. Thoughts of target practice, whether the target was in the right place to start with, whether it is actually the wrong target in the first place, whether the archer was focused enough …had their technique correct, I am sure you get the gist of what I am thinking.
In my life there have been times when I have had targets in my line of sight. I have had targets set for me, we call them goals, or benchmarks or results. Sometimes, it has occurred to me that my targets were unachievable.
Other times throughout my ministry life, in excess of 30 years, these targets have been, not only unrealistic, but also contrary to what we should have been aiming for in the first place.
Targets are set based on a whole pile of expectations and issues facing an organisation or system, even in our personal life we set goals, resolutions, hopes and dreams that may be far fetched and or never able to be obtained.
In every situation and organisation I have worked in goals, objectives (targets) are in place. Sometimes like the whole world will crumble if I don't achieve it.
However, the analogy still rings true….if your goal, target is nothing, then that is exactly what you will hit.
So what does one do when the pressure is on to perform or hit a bullseye every single time ?
I have a few thoughts on that also..
1. Make sure the target is in the right position.
2. Do everything you can to hit the bullseye. (Training, strategy, mini steps along the way etc)
3. Ready, Aim….and Fire. (Prepare, focus and shoot for the bullseye )
Understanding you will never ever hit the target if you don’t actually do something to try and do so.
As we start a brand new year, it’s like a blank canvas… a target that hasn’t had any shots yet against it.
However, will we arrive at December 2026 and wonder what happened in the past year that moved so fast that we don't know where it even went ? Did we even set any Goals ? Plans ? Strategies ? Were the ones set for us actually doable ? Did we shoot and fall short ? And if we did fall short, were we positioned correctly to even be able to achieve ?
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Throughout my life I have shot and fallen short, I have moved my personal targets any number of times, changed the way I shoot and missed it all completely . Haven't you as well ?
Have you ever woken up and wondered where your life went ? Wondering if this is what it was supposed to be like ?
I have.
Maybe even more so lately.
Approaching the final years of my life I have been thinking did I miss something ? Did I have the wrong target in position ? Did I give it my best shot ? Was I ever useful in any process anyway ?
Some of those questions I have good answers for, I did give it my very best shot…. yes I really did.
I certainly hit some targets along the way, and missed a few as well. There were times, in hindsight, that the targets set would never be achievable ….it was pie in the sky for someone who set them ….but I gave it a shot anyway.
So…am I all washed up now ? Is there anything left in me ? Am I of any worth or value to anyone or anything, anymore ?
I don’t want to end my working/ministry life feeling defeated and useless….I still have energy and wisdom enough left in me, as well as experience and skills, that can be used to hit a new target.
So do you .
The real question now, for me, and maybe also for you…. Will I get my position right and shoot once more for an achievable target ?
I plan to aim for that !!! And take the steps to get into position once again, and then go for it, once more.
Bless you this day and your new year 2026.
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