Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” 2 Corinthians 13:5 ESV
I walked across the dewy grass and rested my clubs on the bag stand. Max was already swinging to my left. As I expanded my arms upward, my chest and shoulder muscles cringed. Max turned around (he’s left-handed) and said, “Trace, come over to this side so we can talk while we warm up.”
I obliged and claimed the pyramid of balls to his left. This would be our first round of the year and our first together. Max was hoping for some tips. I, however, am cautious to tweak anyone’s swing in the first few minutes of watching, especially less than thirty minutes before the first tee. I offered a few words of encouragement, attended to my warm-up, and then quietly observed his game throughout the round.
The next day, I led Max back to the practice range and began examining his fundamentals with him. We changed his grip, adjusted his posture and hand position, narrowed his stance, and lastly his alignment. The four fundamentals that always need examining regardless of skill level.
We also talked about the importance of balance between our feet and the ground. I nick-named his over-active foot movement “dancing feet.” I encouraged Max to use his imagination as he examined and tested his new understanding of these fundamentals.
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Examining our golf fundamentals will lead to better golf. Examining our faith in Christianity is of infinite importance. There are only two choices: the presence of Jesus Christ in you through his Holy Spirit or not. Which will you choose?
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Max McLean is a C.S. Lewis expert and remarkable actor. His one man shows like, “The Most Reluctant Convert,” produced by Fellowship for Performing Arts, are exceptional. He has spent countless hours examining the writings and life of C.S. Lewis, enabling him to embody Lewis’ vocabulary, mannerisms, and faith on stage.
As I watched Max hit 9-irons the third day, I was astounded at his improvement. He said he had been thinking about the information and imagining his body doing it. The same gifts Max uses to learn C.S. Lewis was now assisting him to test his new golf fundamentals.
C.S Lewis was a devoted atheist for nearly two decades. Like each one of us, he came to a time when he had to examine what was true. He resisted. He searched. He tested. And then he knew he believed. Lewis said, “I believe in Christianity, as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” He went from seeing God in nothing to seeing God in everything.
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance,” utters Lewis. He concludes by staying, “The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”
Examining our golf fundamentals will lead to better golf. Examining our faith in Christianity is of infinite importance. There are only two choices: the presence of Jesus Christ in you through his Holy Spirit or not. Which will you choose?
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Tracy Hanson
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The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at linksplayers.com.