🏹 Live at Full Draw 🏹 

My heart was pounding, threatening to explode out of my chest.  My blood, laced with adrenaline, surged through my veins.  I dared not let his observant dark eyes meet mine.  The predator-prey match was nearing completion.  I only needed my quarry to take one more step.  He was a mere fifteen yards away.  I could see the wave action of individual hairs moving in concert with his heavy breathing.  His tawny hide rippled and shuddered as underlying muscles flexed up and down throughout his body.  Saliva and mucous mingled to form a heavy drool that hung well below his chin.  Flaring nostrils sampled the crisp mountainous air as steamy tendrils of moist breath curled away into a pinkish-blue morning sky.  His sharp eyesight bored holes through me with laser intensity.  He was looking for the one who had dared offer him a challenge so close to his throne.  He had come to defend and fight.  With his size, he was confident of victory.

My top pin hovered over his vitals as my back and arm muscles strained to hold my bow at full draw.  Momentarily, the wind was in my favor.  But I had learned after multiple failures that the fickle mountain air currents could not be trusted.  Hopefully, they would not betray me this time.  The razor-sharp chiseled-steel broad head danced in an arc of motion, ready to launch.  My mind screamed, “Just one more step.”  I needed him to move his right leg forward to clear the line.  An aspen tree blocked the aft lungs, and his shoulder blocked the center double-lung shot.  My arrow would not penetrate his massive shoulder bone, I knew.  I remained patient, for only six inches and a split second prevented me from releasing the arrow.  All my senses were on high alert.  So were his.  I was starting to shake even though I was anchored firm.  He sensed something was wrong.  He held his position as caution pricked his nerves.  His ears twitched sideways and forwards trying to pick up any unnatural sound.  I was sure he could hear my pulse.  It was throbbing like a locomotive in my own ears.  Slowly, he fidgeted forward.  It wasn’t enough.  I needed three more inches.  Muscle fatigue was shooting through my arms and shoulders.  It seemed an earthquake was ravaging my body as tremors multiplied and dropped into my legs.  I couldn’t hold the strain much longer.

The magnificent bull elk with antlers arching over his back had finally made a mistake.  My quiet and elusive opponent had played the “game” well over the last few days.  He had pushed me to my breaking point and inflicted some heavy damage.  Dehydrated, sleep deprived, mentally drained, exhausted with sore achy muscles, pinched nerves, and blistered feet, I was teetering on the edge of defeat.  He had nearly won.  I had wanted to quit.  Yet, in stubborn defiance, I had trudged onward and upward, again and again.  This time his lofty perch high on the mountain had been my goal.  I had finally learned where his bedroom resided, and it was there our battle would ensue.  I had resorted to motivational phrases like “Be persistent”, “Don’t stop”, and “Success will come”.  I had reminded myself over and over again that the only unacceptable failure was “giving up”.  Like waves lapping a rocky shore, “Never quit,” had rhythmically accompanied every labored breath and step.  I had to keep trying so I kept climbing.  I was glad I had pushed through the pain.  I was glad I hadn’t given up.  For it was this moment that I had envisioned.  I had believed and struggled for it.  I knew this moment could happen.  And, now it was here.  I was living life at full draw.

“Carpe Diem” is a Latin phrase.  Translated, it means to “seize the day” or “to harvest (pluck) the day.”  It has been widely accepted and used as a philosophical motto, almost to the point of desensitization.  (Does “Just Do It” ring a bell?)

In many respects, carpe diem isn’t a bad life-guidance phrase.  However, carpe diem is a chameleon of sorts.  It morphs it’s camouflage depending on who declares it.  It means something different to different people.  There are those who would state, “Eat, drink, and be merry.  For tomorrow we die,” encapsulates all that carpe diem means.  Others would offer up that “seizing the day” means taking it easy, putting your toes in the sand, drinking a glass of wine, and embracing just you.

I, on the other hand, believe that “carpe diem” has lost it’s true meaning amidst social media and the “you only live once (YOLO)” crowd.  In fact, carpe diem has been taken completely out of context.  Carpe diem was first used by Roman poet, Horace, in his writings of Odes.  The complete text in Latin is written, “Carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero.”  This loosely translates to “Seize the day, put very little trust into tomorrow.”  In other words, in full context, carpe diem means to do all that you can today because tomorrow may not come.  Stated another way, and one that I prefer, “live at full draw”.

In my opinion, “live at full draw” is a better life-guidance phrase than carpe diem.  “Live at full draw” implies action, readiness, preparation, and excitement without worry about tomorrow.  It denotes complete immersion in the moment that was obtained through effort, hard work, and discipline. Life at full draw is exciting.  Life at full draw is full of adrenaline and adventure.  Life at full draw is rewarding.  Life at full draw is very special.

But should a Christian live life according to declarations like “carpe diem” or “live at full draw”?

Throughout Scripture, the Bible offers some hints about living life.  Jesus said, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:34 NIV).  James wrote that tomorrow is an unknown and our lives are just a vanishing mist. (James 4:13-14 NIV). Those passages make it clear that the future is uncertain.  Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow.  It’s okay to plan, just don’t worry.  What about today?

Paul wrote in Colossians, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord...” (Colossians 3:23 NIV), and he continued in Galatians with “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9 NIV)

In Second Timothy, we read, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15 NIV), and Peter wrote, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have...” (1 Peter 3:15 NIV)

Biblically speaking, it is fairly clear that the hedonistic version of carpe diem which declares “Eat, drink, and be merry” does NOT “seize the day”.  Nor does “toes in the sand, wine in the hand, and self-hugging embracement”.  I personally feel “live at full draw” is a motto that encompasses more of what is taught biblically.  Discipline, focus, self-sacrifice, self-control, hard work, patience, persistence, perseverance, preparation, and readiness are all in the mix.  However, per Scripture, exclaiming “live at full draw” has little value unless we embrace a wise and unselfish application with it.  To wit, we can really only “seize the day” by being grateful for each and every day of our lives and by making the most of every opportunity to glorify God.

So, therefore, my motto now stands as, “Glorify God while living at full draw!”