Ain’t That A VHIT
By Von C. Howard
At 46 years old, I’ve learned that life isn’t just measured by the victories we celebrate; it’s also defined by how we handle the darts that come our way. And truthfully, those darts don’t always come from strangers. Sometimes they come from family and friends. Sometimes they come from co-workers, people in your organization, or even church members, the very places you expect support.
For a long time, I thought strength meant meeting every dart with force. If someone came at me, I had to respond. However, experience taught me that real strength is in discernment. Not every dart deserves my energy. Some must be addressed, others ignored, and all require wisdom to know the difference. Choosing silence doesn’t mean I wasn’t hurt or that I don’t care, it means I value my peace and purpose too much to sacrifice them in the wrong battle.
Scripture anchors me in these moments. Ephesians 6:16 calls us to “take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” That shield is not built on pride or retaliation; it’s built on faith, character, and trust that God will fight the battles I don’t need to. Isaiah 54:17 reminds us: “No weapon formed against you shall prosper.” The darts may fly, but they will not have the final say.
As a Black man in America, those darts often feel heavier: judgment, envy, misrepresentation. Yet maneuvering through them doesn’t mean being passive. It means protecting my spirit, guarding my peace, and striving not to allow bitterness to take root. Even when the unwarranted and unfair darts fly in common places, I’ve learned to stand in vigor, believing that victory is always on the horizon.
Here’s what I know now: the dart doesn’t define you, your response does. When I choose grace over anger, I teach resilience. When I lean on faith instead of frustration, I show that peace itself is a form of resistance. And when I stay focused on my purpose, I continue walking the path God designed, no matter the distractions.
So, whether you’re still shaping your identity, balancing family and career, or pressing forward in your later years, remember this: you don’t have to catch every dart. You don’t have to fight every battle. Sometimes the most powerful move is to keep walking forward, head high, spirit intact, faith unshaken.
The darts will come from family, friends, coworkers, even church members. But they cannot pierce the purpose God has placed within you.
My prayer is this: may we all find the courage to protect our peace, the wisdom to choose our battles carefully, and the faith to know that even when the darts fly, victory is already written in our favor.
