Using a handheld bow, arrows have traveled more than 4000 feet (1222.01 meters to be exact).  Of course, these "flight archers" are aiming at a rather large target - Earth.

Most of us seek to hit more narrowly defined targets.  There are three reasons we often miss: 1) The target is too far away, 2) The target is too costly, and 3) Our equipment isn't up to the challenge.

When the target is too far away

Most of you know the answer to this challenge.  Set up incremental targets and as you progress through these you will eventually be within range of the overall objective.

You don't become an ophthalmologist overnight (except when it is the night before you become an ophthalmologist).  You graduate from high school, earn an appropriate college degree, attend medical school, and then specialize in ophthalmology.  There are many additional steps along the way, taking the MCAT, as well as applying to and being accepted by a medical college.

Our children need to learn to break their larger goals into smaller steps, hitting the appropriate targets along the way.  As sometimes happens, they start out eyeing a career as an ophthalmologist and end up a philosopher (OK, that's actually kind of rare).  Failure to hit the initial target isn't failure.  Another lessen they must learn.

When the target is too costly

No one has unlimited resources.  Larry Ellison, owner of the catamaran that recently won America's Cup, is worth more than $40 billion.  Even Ellison doesn't have unlimited resources.  Our targets in life have associated costs - time, money, prestige, relationships - that are real and cannot be avoided.  As I told the well-known pastor who lamented that he didn't spend as much time with his children as he wished he had, he couldn't have it both ways.  He could be well-known and influential within the community at the cost of time with his children or he could have hours with his children that would cost him in prestige and influence with those outside his family.

Our children must learn not that hitting the target is costly and so they shouldn't shoot, but that they must count the cost associated with their targets and select wisely.  Often this means that we cannot defend our decisions to others, but we must be able to live with them ourselves.

When our equipment isn't up to the challenge

You don't flight an arrow more than 4000 feet with a bow from Wal-Mart.  But perhaps today the only bow you can afford is the type that Wal-Mart sells.  That is why we work to save resources so that we can purchase what will best aid us in the achievement of our goals.  That is why we practice with what we can afford today so that we are ready when better equipment is within reach.  That is why we develop mutually beneficial relationships where we gain access to equipment we could not afford without the help of others (like the crew members on Larry Ellison's catamaran).

Our children must learn to keep the long view in mind so that they don't squander today what could make possible their dreams tomorrow.  Equipment makes a difference and we must invest in the best equipment available to help us reach our targets.

Postscript to last month's newsletter(click to read it in our archives): Several readers asked me: "So, what happened?"  Or as one person put it so eloquently: