Shoot Your Shot

According to one definition, a limitation is a “condition, a restrictive weakness, a lack of capacity, or an inability.” Some limitations are artificial--and we must push against those.  But other limitations are physical, economic, moral or spiritual, and we trangress those to our detriment. We all have limitations.  Some can be overcome, and others cannot. But perhaps the worse kind of limitations are those that are self-imposed.

A self-imposed limitation arises from our imagination, and is usually fed and financed by our insecurities. We convince ourselves that some desired objective or result is beyond our perceived capacity, and choose to settle for far less than what our potential and perhaps even our purpose warrant. This assumption creates a vicious cycle. First, we decide that we don’t have the time, ability, or gifts to reach a certain level. Next, we abdicate our responsibility to maximize our available opportunities. Then, we arrive at the seemingly honorable but appallingly horrific conclusion that where we are and what we have must be God’s will.

There is a haunting scene in the annals of scripture that presents a poignant picture of this truth. In 1 Kings 13:15-20, King Jehoash goes to visit the legendary prophet Elisha who is sick and nearing death. When he arrives at Elijah’s home, the following conversation ensues:

Elisha told him, “Get a bow and some arrows.” And the king did as he was told. Elisha told him, “Put your hand on the bow,” and Elisha laid his own hands on the king’s hands. Then he commanded, “Open that eastern window,” and he opened it. Then he said, “Shoot!” So he shot an arrow. Elisha proclaimed, “This is the Lord’s arrow, an arrow of victory over Aram, for you will completely conquer the Arameans at Aphek.” Then he said, “Now pick up the other arrows and strike them against the ground.” So the king picked them up and struck the ground three times. But the man of God was angry with him. “You should have struck the ground five or six times!” he exclaimed. “Then you would have beaten Aram until it was entirely destroyed. Now you will be victorious only three times.” Then Elisha died and was buried.

When I was teenager, I heard one of my mentors preach a message on this text. Almost three decades later, his words are still chiseled in my memory. I remember him describing King Jehoash’s decision to only strike the ground three times with the arrows as “the tragedy of a half-hearted effort.” Theories abound as to why the King only struck the ground thrice. But regardless of his motives, I think that there was more at play besides the issue of effort. I also believe that the issue of esteem was a monumental factor. In fact, I believe that esteem precedes, informs, and determines effort. If I don’t think I can do something, I won’t even try! As the poet Walter Winkle reminds us:

If you think you are beaten, you are If you think you dare not, you don’t, If you like to win, but you think you can’t It is almost certain you won’t.

If you think you’ll lose, you’re lost For out of the world we find, Success begins with a fellow’s will It’s all in the state of mind. If you think you are outclassed, you are. You’ve got to think high to rise, You’ve got to be sure of yourself before You can ever win a prize.

Life’s battles don’t always go To the stronger or faster man, But soon or late the man who wins Is the man who thinks he can.

I think Jehoash was intimidated by Aram, and that insecurity led to a self-imposed limitation that curtailed his victory.

Wayne Gretzky holds the record for the most goals ever scored in the National Hockey League. During his 20 years career, Gretzky scored 894 goals in 1497 games. Interestingly, he attempted 5088 goals. So that means he only made 18.4% of the shots that he took. Put differently, he missed 88% of the time. But despite missing the overwhelming majority of the shots he took, Wayne Gretzky said something at the end of his career that is worth considering. He said: “you miss 100% of the shots that you don’t take.”

Pick up the bows and arrows of your dreams, gifts, talents.

Open the windows of your opportunities.

And shoot your shot!