Golf and the Kingdom

With apologies to Michael Murphy for the title of this little musing, I spent some time Saturday evening (while cutting the grass) thinking about the more spiritual quality of the game of golf. You see, while I do not get to play golf often (once a week if I’m lucky), I dearly love the game. It has afforded me great pleasure for almost forty years, and a few moments of extreme aggravation. I’ve had the good fortune to play in Scotland, which, as everyone should know, is the birthplace of this crazy game. I’ve yet to develop a full bucket list, the things I want to do before I die, but going back to Caledonia is on it, to be sure. One of the real and true highlights of my life was playing the Old Course at St. Andrews in 2003 with my son Tim.

And you ought to see my study at home. It’s my own personal golf museum. When I am there, studying or working on my sermons, I bask in the glow of my favorite past-time.

I mentioned moments of aggravation. I’m a competitor. Always have been, always will be, and sometimes my biggest competition is... me. Every time I hit the links I think I ought to shoot a record score, which for me would be a 74. Haven’t gotten close to that in a long time, however. In fact, the last couple of years has seen my scoring diminish somewhat. Surely couldn’t have anything to do with the aging process, you think?

So I had a little talk with myself. Last Friday, my good friend Gerry Claybrook and I met over at Hot Springs Village, the Cortez course. Cortez is becoming my favorite 18 of all the Village courses. The last two holes are absolutely gorgeous, some of the most scenic in all of Arkansas. I decided before we started that 1) I would not complain when I hit a bad shot, and I would (did) inevitably hit some bad shots, 2) would not overanalyze how to hit the ball, that I would just hit it, and 3) I would luxuriate in the beautiful weather. A good friend, beautiful course, a whole afternoon with nature... doesn’t get any better than that.

My score, as it turned out, was a few strokes above my handicap. However, my attitude was really close to par, and my enjoyment was a birdie. I came away refreshed and grateful for the opportunity to play. You see, it had been a particularly full week of work, and I needed the time to be away from it.

There may be a lesson in that in regard to my work. I’ve been pressing of late, rather burdened with the desire to build up a church that needs more folk to fill the pews and more bucks to pay for its ministry. I’ve been throwing my shoulder against those issues that keep us from doing this, and I’m beginning to realize that analyzing it and worrying about it has been counterproductive.

So, I’m going to quite complaining and will take what life and ministry and work – and golf – will give me. Anybody interested in a game?