Not Missing the Mark

The following is a talk (sermon) I gave at church last Sunday. I can safely say this had to be the most unorthodox inspiration I’ve ever received for speaking on a spiritual matter.

In talks or lessons you may have heard about looking beyond the mark. Moses once held aloft a metal staff for the Israelite's to look upon and be healed. Many expected something flashier and looked for something amazing behind it. That failure to exercise simple faith cost them dearly.

I'll quote from the Old Testament's Book of Jacob, Chapter 4, verse 14:

But behold, the Jews were a stiffnecked people; and they despised the words of plainness, and killed the prophets, and sought for things that they could not understand. Wherefore, because of their blindness, which blindness came by looking beyond the mark, they must needs fall; for God hath taken away his plainness from them, and delivered unto them many things which they cannot understand, because they desired it. And because they desired it God hath done it, that they may stumble.

I was asked to use What Thinks Christ of Me? By Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles from the April 2012 General Conference for themes to use in this talk. He touches on many things ranging from the decay of society to the power of simple faith. Mostly it is about being a disciple of Christ.

So I went by inspiration that came to me after reading it again and it took me down a path I didn't expect. A sentence in that talk reads as follows:

Jesus’s call “Come, follow me”is not only for those prepared to compete in a spiritual Olympics.

I hope you will bear with me as I begin with an Olympic sporting event that appears to be a contradiction to that statement. There is a sport called the biathlon that is amongst the most challenging in the Winter Olympics.

Now I will invite all of you to use your imagination. Picture yourselves out in the countryside in gently rolling hills covered by white winter snow. It is a very pretty, very alluring world out there that glitters brightly in the sunlight as you cross country ski through. At first it is easy to keep your arms and legs moving, but after awhile the cold air begins to have a bite to it. Still feeling strong you keep moving forward with purpose, for you are in competition with many others to qualify for the Olympic Games.

Eventually you reach a stopping place, but there is no rest to be had. Instead you must unlimber a .22 caliber rifle from your back and accurately place five rounds on targets 50 meters away (around 160 feet). If you miss any, you are made to atone for it, either by having a minute added for each miss or by having to ski around a penalty track measuring 150 meters or 490 feet for those missed targets.

Oh and those targets are small. Depending whether you are standing or prone, they measure 4.5 inches or 1.8 inches. To hit those little targets, you have to still your body from the exertions you just went through, pausing between heartbeats to fire a round. Once finished, you have to get up, sling the rifle, pick up your poles, and ski again. This happens multiple times.

Each stop to hit the targets seems a little farther away, but the intervals aren't really changed. Instead you are tiring from the effort and your legs seem heavier. So does the rifle and your view through the peep sight shows the target circle swaying more than it did the last time. The air has more than a bite to it for it now burns your lungs. The pretty scenery can be distracting and the snow blinding, but you must focus and become very still in order to hit that ever so small dot in the distance.

It does not help that there are onlookers on the sidelines watching you, some supporting, some not. While they may be quiet during the shooting, they aren't during the rest of it and you can tell if they are rooting for or against you. That's a world of pressure by itself, but that isn't the biggest.

If you miss the mark, you fall behind. If you fall behind, you might not qualify for the next level of competition. If you are to make it to the Winter Olympics, you have to keep focused and pace yourself properly. If you miss the mark too many times, you won't get there.

Since biathlon competitors are sent out at staggered times, often the athlete finds themselves very alone in the wilderness. It seems that they are completely on their own with nobody to help them.

How often does it seem that way for us in our lives? But the truth for the would be Olympian and ourselves is that we really do have help. For the athlete they have coaches, organizations, mentors, and family that have aided them in all that they do. Likewise, we have help from our families, our friends, church organizations, and of course, the Holy Ghost.

Beyond that, a good athlete relies on the lessons they have been taught by good instructors and the rules that govern the sport. When in doubt, they fall back to these truths when the going gets tough and trust that these precepts will get them through difficulties. As followers of Christ, we need to remember the teachings we have been given and trust in the Savior to aid us in our times of need.

We also need to remember that unlike the athlete we aren't really in a competition, even if it appears that some act that way in spiritual matters. Pride and envy can distort our perception of things and other people. Instead we should realize we all are here to help each other along the way as we try our best to be true disciples of Christ.

A few more imperfect analogies can be made from the athlete competing in the biathlon.

That attractive and glittering environment can be likened to the flashy and superficial world we Westerners live in today. It looks good, but there is no substance and in the harsh heat of reality known as a “crisis” it melts away like the sun melts snow in Spring leaving no support. Skis in mud don't work very well.

The crowds cheering, or jeering, are much like the people in the floating building Nephi described from his father's vision (1 Nephi 8). Today we have so many influences trying to steer us one way or another that it is easy to get lost. Even more so if we are dazzled by bright lights advertising a good time.

Maintaining a focus on our target, or our mark, is what is needed during these times that have become so hostile toward Christianity. In other words, our eyes need to remain on the prize that is returning home to our Heavenly Father.

Unlike a hunting rifle, there is no telescopic sight to aid shooters in the biathlon. Focusing one's attention is a must to hit a target with a projectile. When staring down through a tiny hole, lining it up with a post, and watching the very small dot swaying, you have to still yourself as much as you can. Pausing to fire between heartbeats for better accuracy is much like slowing down our often hectic lives to listen for the Spirit for guidance. Even more like that is the corrective instructions from the coach after missing a shot.

Isn't it interesting that when an athlete misses the target, they have to perform an act in order to atone for it? It is all too easy to miss the mark. In fact, you will occasionally miss no matter how practiced or skilled you are. This is true in our spiritual journey here on Earth and why repentance is so important. We cannot do this on our own.

Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, our being forgiven for our sins and errors is possible. He is our exemplar, showing us the way to behave and act – especially toward others. While performing His mortal ministry, Jesus was what people these days would call judgmental. He would call people hypocrites and fools, while praising others.

That doesn't mean we should go around insulting others or seeking fights since we aren't remotely close to his level of knowledge or understanding. The point I'm trying to make is that he was utterly honest no matter the situation. What needed to be said was said by Him with no fear.

Are we that way? Are we willing to stand for Christ and what is virtuous in all places at any time? Not even the original disciples managed to pull that off, at least not in the beginning. In Mark Chapter 14, Peter's faith stumbles even when he was warned by the Savior that he would deny knowing Him:

Mark 14: 66-72

And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest:

And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth.

But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew.

And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is one of them.

And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilæan, and thy speech agreeth thereto.

But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak.

And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.

Since the world may seem (and actually be) cold and hostile to the message of salvation we have been entrusted to carry forth, too often like Peter we become afraid to acknowledge we are disciples of Christ. We are too concerned with how people view us.

That is a form of seeing beyond the mark because we are not focused where we should be. What target are we supposed to be focused on?

The Savior.

We need to worry more about what He thinks of us than what other people think of us. That applies to all people, not just people who are unbelievers or mockers.

Before I joined the Church, I used to make fun of the little reminder bracelets with “WWJD” engraved on them and the people who wore them. But I've come to understand that we need to engrave the full words of “what would Jesus do” on our hearts in order to become better disciples. It starts with trusting in Him and His promises to us. Personally, I need more than a little work there.

.22 bullets are really, really little. So are the things we can do to be disciples of Christ. Sharing the Gospel, helping others in need, speaking kind words, setting an example in a world filled with crude behavior, and most of all, be not afraid. Those little things are our ammo. If we do them and keep our eyes on the Savior, we will not miss the mark.