People with their minds set on you, you keep completely whole, steady on their feet, because they keep at it and don’t quit. (Isaiah 26:3, MSG)
After a weekend of watching the Ryder Cup matches, you can imagine the intense focus required of these players. This is true of all team play, but with the size and volume of the Ryder Cup crowds, the premium on concentration is at its peak.
I recently read John Feinstein’s The First Major, an inside look at the 2016 Ryder Cup. There were some great stories of men who had focus and commitment yet were humbled by the event. “I remember standing over the ball and standing over the ball and standing over the ball,” Padraig Harrington told Feinstein. “At some point the thought occurred to me that ‘none of these people are leaving until I swing the club.’ It was a terrifying thought.”
I bluntly asked him, “Are you sure you want to do this?” He immediately responded, “Yes, there is nothing more important.”Feinstein’s observations also included a quote from Bob Sutton, the former Army football coach who always told his team the same thing before they played Navy: “All other things being equal, the most desperate team will win.” With only one win since 2000, the US team in 2016 was absolutely desperate and that desperation drove their commitment.
Does our culture—including those who play golf—need any less from followers of Jesus? Does the one who died that we might live deserve any less than our wholehearted, unconditional commitment to him?
We may say that our faith in God is our priority, but our fleeting focus and attention don’t always exhibit this goal. I focus well early in the morning before the distractions of the day. It is my time with Jesus, and the commitment comes easily enough. The house is quiet. Maybe some soft music is playing in the background, my Bible is open, and my mood is one of learning and worship. I wish I could carry this focus into the day’s activities and disruptions. I am devoted but often distracted. I have a tendency to confuse urgent with important. I hope some of you can relate, or am I the only one whose focus is fractured?
Michael is a young man who regularly attends one of our Links Fellowships. I have come to really know and appreciate his desire to grow his faith. He comes prepared. He brings two Bibles with him so that he can refer to the notes and commentaries on the verses under consideration. He loves to ask bold questions and is intentional about knowing more so he can apply this information to his busy life. He is starting a new business and has a young family as well. I approached him the other day about the possibility of starting a mentoring program for the two of us. I thought he would be a good one to pour into, but I did not want to force this or have him say yes because he thought I wanted him to. I laid out the plan with all the reading material, Scripture memory, and time commitment to meet on a regular basis. I wanted to give him an out. So I bluntly asked him, “Are you sure you want to do this?” He immediately responded, “Yes, there is nothing more important.”
This man is focused on that imperishable wreath that can never be taken away. He might forget who won the Ryder Cup in 2018, but I believe he will be eternally grateful for the time, attention, and focus on Jesus in his new faith journey. I believe our greatest struggle is against who we are now and who we are to become. Michael is focused on getting better. That focus has inspired me as well.
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Randy Wolff
October 2, 2018
Copyright 2018 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.