I read a book a few years back by a Presbyterian Minister in Forty Fort, PA - I think it was, "Play It As It Lies". He made the case that life and golf had a lot in common. He played nine holes every morning with his friends, and learned some valuable lessons. Sometimes, you hit a bad shot. Sometimes, you get a tough break. Nevertheless, in every case, you have to go on to the next shot, the next lie, and the next swing. You have to play the ball as it lies. You have to stay in the game. Life is like that, too.
David showed up to deliver bread and cheese to his brothers as the army of Israel was battling the Philistines. He saw Goliath come out and taunt the troops. David was incensed. How could they let this Philistine talk like that about the Israel of God and the God of Israel? Was there not a man to fight him? If no one else goes, I'll do it. They made fun of him. His brothers told him he was a brazen young fool. Saul dressed him up in his own armor, and no doubt, the king's court got a chuckle out of that, too. Yet, David went to battle and defeated Saul. He became a mighty warrior. Samuel told Saul that David would be king. Here was a lad with an attitude. Here was a lad that takes a risk and could believe in himself just as he was - a shepherd boy with a shepherd's sling that changed the course of the battle and Israel's history because he believed his God was bigger than Goliath.
I'm reading a book now by Dr. Bob Rotella entitled, "Golf is not a Game of Perfect". Almost the first thing he says is that a person with great dreams can achieve great things. A person with small dreams, or a person without the confidence to pursue his or her dreams, has consigned himself or herself to a life of frustration and mediocrity. Often, dreams are about the life we wish we had. If they remain only wishes, we never act on them. We stand around and wish this or that would happen, but we don't pursue it. We want the heavens to open up and drop it in our lap. In other words, we fail to take responsibility for pursuing our dreams, as best as we are able, until we realize them. That doesn't mean there won't be failures and frustrations along the way, but you keep trying, striving, practicing, and you get better.
When I consider the title, "Golf is not a game of Perfect," I think about life, and when I think about life, I think about Christianity and Church. There are a few simple fundamentals laid out. The first is, God chooses God's own. Two is, they're not perfect. Three is, God's grace makes the difference. Four is, human beings are amazingly forgetful. Five is, God is astoundingly faithful. Six is, unless we know how to love and forgive our brother or sister, we have yet to know this God who has chosen us and them. We risk raising our hands and voices against God's anointed. We risk raising our hands and voices against the God who chooses us and them.
The people who play professional golf aren't any bigger, stronger, or smarter than anyone else. The difference is, they had a dream, and they pursued it. They didn't just wish they would be great - they struggled to be great. They developed the attitude that success is what is meant by going from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm. They practice the fundamentals, over and over. They focus on the things that make all the difference, and they stick to them until they get it right. That doesn't mean they get it right every time. It does mean that their dedication, commitment, practice, and perseverance allow them to get it right more of the time.
Commitment, dedication, purpose, and focus make all the difference. As in golf, so in life; as in life, so in Christian love. Sometimes you hit a bad shot. Sometimes you get a tough break. Nevertheless, you play it as it lies. You believe in God, yourself, and in others. You keep on keeping on.
The woman who chased down the hem of Christ's garment had a dream. She didn't just wish she was better. She set out to be healed. She said, "If I can just touch the hem of his garment, I'll be clean." She had a dream, and she pursued it. She was unclean, pushing her way through the crowds, no right to be where she was, no right to touch the clothing of another person, but she did it, and she found the power she was seeking - she found the enthusiasm of Christ's gracious love, and she was healed.
Derek Evans, Executive Director of Naramata Retreat Center in Canada, said, "We need to accept that the values and qualities we want to see reflected in our lives, and in our world, will never appear as some magical gift. They are a direct result of our commitment and determination to act in ways that produce those values.We are more likely to create the future we really want if we start living it."
The woman with the issue of blood, the ruler with the dying daughter, didn't just wring their hands and wish they could do something. They did something. They acted. They reached out. They were committed to creating the dream they had for life restored, life renewed, life resurrected. They focused on the fundamentals. They focused on Christ. They ignored the crowds. The man was forced to wait for the woman's healing, and got news his daughter had died. He thought it was over. The woman had been bleeding for twelve years and was impoverished by the cost of her care. Jesus says to the woman, your faith has given you the strength to be healed. Jesus says to the man, it's not over till we sink the last putt.
Life, golf, and love are not games of perfect. They require practice. Sometimes you hit a bad shot. Sometimes you get a tough break. Play it as it lies. Reach out to the one playing at your side. Reach out for the hem of Christ's garment and believe that your God is bigger than your problem.
(Comments to Michael at mphillip@epix.net.)
First Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Berwick, Pennsylvania (Susquehanna North Branch)