It was something like love at first sight: meditation and archery. A stance firmly rooted to the ground, the dignified, upright posture, the opening as the string is drawn, the release, and the flight of the arrow. Then a loud thud as the arrow hits the target, is muffled by the net, or grazes the ground with a soft clink.

I stand to the side of the target. Releasing the arrow toward a target is a moment to pause: “If you see the target as your enemy, you may hit it, but you will not succeed in improving anything within yourself. … Simply driving the arrow into the center of a piece of paper is completely useless. … Therefore, you must choose your target well, do your best to reach it, and always regard the target with respect and dignity.” (Paulo Coelho, The Way of the Bow)

What is my goal? To hit the center of the target? Of course I want to hit it, and I’m happy when I succeed—but I take it in stride when the arrows seem to have a mind of their own. Sometimes Paul’s words come to mind: “Pressing on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward” (Phil 3:14).

(My) big goal is stated in our Constitution: “Let us find that unity with you to which you have called us.”

In archery, we practice: “Bringing the target closer.” And: “Breathing in the target.” With every breath, we get closer to the target. Just like recently during City Cycling in Frankfurt. The big goal: preserving our shared world. Our Indian sister, Firstlymary, inspires us with her joy in competition, her love of cycling, her passion for the environment, and her commitment to more movement in daily life. On the way to the goal: standing up for something, improving something within oneself.

A goal, my goal, your goal, His goal—we can explore the goal in all its forms and in doing so discover the joy of playfulness, unleashing creativity: “If you truly love, you are inventive.” (Anna Dengel)