Golf. Most would refer to it as a gentleman's game. However, I don't consider myself to be like most people.
During my years of competitive golf I have witnessed so many petite, bubbly,
kindhearted women who have a passion for the game. Don't let their exterior be
misleading. These women, my friends, would rob the average male golfer of their
money and their pride. Gently, of course. As I've eased out of playing
competitively over the past three years, I've found that my game has worsened
while my collegiate bound teammates and friends continue to break their own
personal records. Despite my lack of practice lately, the passion for the game
remains.
But you see the reason I love the
sport is deeper than the obvious objective of smacking a tiny white ball into a
round hole. By nature and intent, golf teaches elements of character. Honesty,
integrity, perseverance, self-discipline, humility, respect, and courtesy. Golf, known as being a mental game, has taught me perspective above all. The way I play golf is very
similar to the way I play the game of life. Some days I feel like a professional
and other days I'm back to learning the fundamentals.
Weather Conditions
In East Tennessee the weather is known
for being unpredictable. Just when I think I'm prepared and dressed
appropriately for a round of golf, the once fluffy marshmallow cloud suddenly
appears grey and sprinkles of water begin to drop. As a result I've learned
that you have to persevere, be flexible, willing to adjust your game plan based
on the condition of the course. Life shares this same unpredictability. I like
to think that stormy seasons are placed in our life to subtly lead us to
discover God's game plan. As a player of the game, we must be willing to trust
and be redirected.
Whiffing
This word is often used to describe a
player who swings and misses by a considerably large margin. In a golfers
dictionary, whiffing would be defined as swinging the golf club without making
contact with the ball. As a result you've wasted a stroke and have not advanced
the ball any closer to the hole. Luckily it has been many years since I've
embarrassingly whiffed while playing golf however, in life there are several
moments where I miss the target. The intentions of my heart mean well, but many
times I find myself focused on the wrong goal. As a result I am weary and
stationary. I misuse my efforts by taking a swing at events and agendas that
don't offer any advancement for His Kingdom. Swing and a miss. Sound familiar?
This leads me to the next topic.
Forgiving Yourself
Golf is weird compared to other sports.
Bear with me as I explain a few concepts for those who aren't very familiar.
The objective is to play a round of golf and finish with the lowest score. A "round
of golf" consists of playing 18 consecutive holes and the number of
strokes he or she must take to make the little white ball roll into the hole
determines a player’s score. Boring, right???
My point is this. During the round,
mistakes are going to happen. You may hit the ball into the sand trap, out of
bounds, into a hazard, or lose sight of the ball all together. When this
happens a feeling of frustration, regret, and disappointment swell within.
However, in the midst of these emotions we must remind ourselves that there is
still more golf to be played and opportunities to do well in the future. A
terrible hole doesn't immediately result in a terrible round. Life is no
different. We all make mistakes, but the way we react to our mistakes will impact
our future. In order to succeed in golf and in life, I believe it's required
that we have a positive attitude and optimistic outlook. Forgive yourself and
move on to the next hole.
Perhaps you don't dedicate your time golfing, but whenever people are passionate about something one becomes full of
joy and inspired when they are able to participate, contribute, and be involved
with an activity that they love. I believe our personal interests aren't given
to us by chance. They are sweetly given as gifts...so go play!
jpr
Very nice post. Well written!!
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