Montana Woods N Water July 2016 Print Edition | Page 18

SHOOTING CONTINUED

My focus was not where it should have been and I was not enjoying the adventure I so
desperately sought. What gain is there if the journey was not enjoyable? Many sportsmen
would take little pleasure in shooting a 380 B&C bull elk from the pickup from a forest
service road. Yet, we will swell with pride describing how we snuck up on that bedded
raghorn, who had no idea we were even in the same county with him when we pulled the
trigger. Why? Because of the journey. Why participate in a pastime if we do not enjoy it?
Yes, hunting is tough if done right. And yes, it requires waking very early, hunting on little
sleep, hiking long distances in the dark, but we must focus on this one fact, we must enjoy
the journey as it unfolds while we work towards the goal we have set. In other words,
focus on the hunt, not necessarily the hunted.
This is reminiscent of life. We all have some goal, something we strive for in life, but
where is your focus? Is the focus upon the end game, the goal you have set for yourself?
What about your friends and family? When the day comes (and it shall for us all) when we
Nathan Albertson
find ourselves about to enter the next adventure, death, what do you wish to reflect on from
your lifetime? Will you reflect upon the name and title plaque mounted on your door at
work, but be unable to remember the last outing you had with your children or grandchildren? How precious will a
bank account be to you if you cannot remember the last time you sat with your spouse, holding their hand and
enjoying time together?
What is your goal and where is your focus? Think about that for a minute. I recently read Philippians 4:8 and it
reminded me of how important and vital the object of our focus truly is to our overall wellbeing. It is imperative we
focus on the right and good things in our lives. Maybe things in our lives are not going as we planned. Perhaps we
have lost sight of our target? Is your career robbing your family of time with you and memories together? Is that hunt
or fishing trip and goal of success stealing away from the accomplishment of a long journey completed? Is your
personal goal preventing you from focusing on the truly important and irreplaceable people, moments, and events in
your life?

It is at times like these that we must have that razor focus on the proverbial front sight. Remember, the only thing we
truly have in our lives is God, our family, and our friends. These must be our focus if we wish to hit the targets we
have set in front of ourselves.
Soon, I shall have a new conversation with my daughters when we are on the shooting range and when we discuss life.
After a missed shot at a soda can, I will ask her, “Honey, where was your focus?” Moreover, as she ages and comes
home talking about missed opportunities, mistakes, and the other disappointments which sometimes come with life, I
will ask her then, “Honey, where is your focus?”
If I succeed in this endeavor, I am certain the day will come when I have become distracted in my life and one of my
daughters will ask me in return, “Daddy, what are you focusing on?” I will consider that a mark of success in my life
and theirs. Where is your focus, my friend?
Successful people maintain a positive focus in life no matter what is going on around them. They stay
focused on their past successes rather than their past failures, and on the next action steps they need to
take to get them closer to the fulfillment of their goals rather than all the other distractions that life
presents to them. Jack Canfield

Mark Your Calendars
The Thompson Falls Trap Club will host its Hot July
50 Bird Shoot on 17 July 2016. Gunner Swanson will
receive his I-net Trophy at the shoot.
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