Today I want to share with you the story about three bullets. I wish I knew who wrote this little piece so that I could give them credit. You will appreciate the moral of the story of this old adage:
Three Bullets
There once was a man who had nothing for his family to eat. He had an old rifle and three bullets. So, he decided that he would go out hunting and kill some wild game for dinner. As he went down the road, he saw a rabbit. He shot at the rabbit and missed it. The rabbit ran away.
Then he saw a squirrel and fired a shot at the squirrel, missing it. The squirrel disappeared into a hole in a cottonwood tree.
As he went further, he saw a large wild 'Tom' turkey in the tree, but he had only one bullet remaining.
A voice spoke to him and said, "Pray first, aim high and stay focused."
However, at the same time, he saw a deer which was a better kill. He brought the gun down and aimed at the deer. But, then he saw a rattlesnake between his legs which was coiled and ready to bite him, so he naturally brought the gun down further to shoot the rattlesnake.
Still, the voice said again to him, "I said, 'Pray, Aim high and Stay focused.' So, the man decided to listen to God's voice.
He prayed, then aimed the gun high up in the tree and shot the wild turkey. The bullet bounced off the turkey and killed the deer. The handle fell off the gun and hit the snake in the head and killed it. And, when the gun had gone off, it knocked him into a pond. When he stood up to look around, he had fish in all his pockets, a dead deer and a turkey to feed his family.
The snake (Satan) was dead simply because the man listened to God.
I love the concept of “pray first, aim high, and stay focused.” It is good advice in all our endeavors! Looking at these three action items may strengthen us in our resolve to do our best.
1. Pray First
We are commanded to pray always (2 Ne. 32:9, Mosiah 26:39, 1 Sam. 7:8). Doing so allows us to listen for the whisperings of the Holy Spirit as we’re wandering through our own particular wilderness – one of temporal needs, emotional or spiritual droughts, health crises, situations that test our integrity, forks in the road where direction determines destiny…. Whatever challenges or difficulties tutor us to choose well.
A simple reminder to “let our first ‘good morning’ be to our Father in Heaven” grants us more capacity for gaining wisdom. It also allows us to have better direction in our efforts, and a great deal more comfort as we are striving to hear the heavenly revelations sent our way.
Listening to God is a very important part of prayer, isn’t it?!
2. Aim High
There are all kinds of thoughts, quotes, and stories about the importance of aiming high. Each of us may be reminded- through the Spirit- of keeping our sights on a higher benchmark, and striving to climb. But this little story seems to pulse with another meaning: Here, the man simply needed to be obedient. Told to “aim high”, his was a directive to do as he was told when distractions came into the picture. It was necessary that he be resolutely obedient in order to receive the very blessings he and his family needed.
The prophet Joseph Smith said this: “I made this my rule, ‘When the Lord commands, do it.” (History of the Church, 2:170.)
Being obedient would set me on a straight course to accomplish what He has told me to do. If I am told to shoot at a turkey, and aim high, then that’s what I should do – regardless of a distracting deer or a dangerous snake. When the stakes are high, it is all the more important to take heed from the One who loves us most. If He tells me to aim high, or call Sister Jones, or read a certain passage in scripture, then that’s what I should do – with immediacy.
3. Stay Focused
I think I may have developed a certain amount of Adult Attention Deficit Disorder, considering how easily distracted I sometimes become. On the way to the refrigerator I will see a paper that I haven’t noticed. Glancing at it, and on my way to the trash can with it, I see a glass that wasn’t taken to the sink- so I do that. At the sink, I notice the plants need watering. Heading back to the bedroom or office, I remember that I was originally going to the refrigerator—but I can’t remember why. I feel pathetic. Then, half an hour later, I remember why I was going there to begin with, and go-with focus- until I reach the appliance! (Not that, once in a while, even after opening the refrigerator door, I forget exactly what item I wanted – sigh).
Sometimes I do this in my spiritual thoughts, as well. As I am focused on doing some good work, I formulate “Thought A/ Action A”. But, “Thought B” comes into mind. “Thought B” shifts my focus a bit, and leads me to “Thought C”. “Thought C” may fuel my desire to accomplish “Action C”. All of this sounds harmless enough, except that I might have really needed to go straight to work on “Thought A/ Action A”. Does that make sense? All the distractions befuddled me enough to keep me from the original intent.
Does this sometimes blur my heavenly-given directive to “Go and do” a particular thing? If so, I am probably missing some blessings that Father has in store for me.
Staying focused on the Savior and His gospel is the way to remain safe from the snake- Satan – and his intent to harm. Following the Good guidance we are given will keep us safe from evil.
In this little story, perhaps the food to feed his family is symbolic of our being fed by the Good Shepherd, and allaying fears of Satan’s injury, if we are smart enough to pay attention to our own specific God – given counsel.
If we each had only three bullets, what would we do with them? With three wishes, where would our thoughts take us? With three book choices, what books would we read? Three phone calls? With three tasks to offer help and love, what would we do? With three days to live, how would we live?
From a simple little story comes a way of better living in the circumstances we find ourselves: Pray first, aim high, and stay focused.
