Two Arrows
“It is very important to remember the shield of your faith; it can protect you from the arrows of your greatest enemy.” ~ Ephesians 6:16 (MCV) Who is this enemy, and what do these arrows represent? One story, first recorded around 397 AD, has been translated and told in various ways throughout history. It is a simple metaphor I find deeply helpful. The Story A man is walking in the woods when he is suddenly struck in the arm by an arrow. The pain is very real, and he begins to bleed. Immediately, his mind begins to race. He worries about the future: Will this wound become infected? Will I lose my arm? Could the infection spread and kill me? Then, his thoughts shift to his family: How will they survive without me? Who shot me? Was it an act of malice or an accident? The man becomes so preoccupied with these "what-ifs"—the things he doesn't know—that he delays seeking treatment for the actual wound. His preoccupation with the unknown becomes a second...
