Famous Archers

In Swiss folklore, William Tell is ordered to shoot an apple off his son’s head with a crossbow from multiple paces.  Why?  Tell had refused to bow to the new bailiff.  If Tell succeeded, then both he and his son would be released.  If not, well, you figure that out.  Anyway, William Tell took aim, pulled back the bow and let it fly.  The arrow pierced the apple and his son was unscathed. At that point, the bailiff asked why he had a second arrow.  Tell responded that the second arrow was meant for the bailiff if his first arrow had missed.  Thus began a horrible relationship eventually ending in the death of the bailiff.  Robin Hood was a mythological character who chose to steal from the rich and give it to the poor.  This was the forerunner of the Obama Administration’s plan of redistribution of wealth.  But I digress.  Robin Hood was exiled to Sherwood Forest (not the subdivision in Schererville) by order of the king. While in the forest, he had plenty of time to practice his archery skills, which he used to defeat the king.  The tights?  I don’t know –maybe he did side work in the ballet.  Cupid , in classical mythology, is the son of the  love goddess, Venus (not the tennis pro).  In popular culture, he draws his arrow to inspire love which landed him a deal with Hallmark for the Valentine’s Day gig.

Did you ever use a bow and arrow?  Perhaps it was target practice.  Maybe you learned this in physical education class as a youth – yes, they gave us kids bows and arrows back then…and we launched them!  You may have used a bow and arrow to down an animal while on the hunt.  Maybe you used Cupid to hit the girl or boy of your dreams.  Whatever the case, the use of a bow and arrow has a common thread.  In order for an arrow to be shot, it must be pulled backwards.  There is no other way.  You have to build the resistance to potential energy which is converted to kinetic energy.  I studied.  Life sometimes can make you feel like it is pulling you back.  Teaching sometimes feels like you are pulling back.  That’s okay because if you are being pulled back, then something exciting is about to be launched in your life!  We have to pull kids back to cover their skill gaps but then after doing so, we launch them ahead.  Don’t lose heart when it feels like you are going backward.  Bringing an apple to a teacher has deep roots.  Don’t miss the mark. Keep aiming!

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The Browns play this Sunday on the shores of Lake Erie against the Pukesburgh …I mean Pittsburgh Steelers.  No love loss here…I like the Steelers as much as I like wet undergarments. ‘Nuff said…Go Browns!