So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:34)
It is the third and final round of the Junior Club Championships at the Dallas Athletic Club – Gold Course. I am on the 17th tee. I have no chance to win because future 5-time PGA Tour champion Scott Verplank is in the field and is well ahead of the rest of us.
But as I stand on the tee, I am only one over par, and I’m thinking if I can just finish with two pars, I can shoot 71, which would be the best round of the tournament. You don’t need to be Bob Rotella to guess what happened next.
The 17th is a par four with water the length of the fairway on the right and water at the end of the fairway 250 yards out. So, I grabbed my 1-iron. I know what you are thinking: “Hit a hybrid, stupid!” But these were the days before hybrids. I don’t think TaylorMade existed yet.
As I addressed the ball and began my takeaway, I could feel the tension in my arms increasing. When I made contact, I knew it was not good, so I looked up to see the ball darting straight into the water. I don’t mean I pushed it. It was a shank, a hosel rocket. The dreaded pitch-out. El Diablo.
After I took my drop by the water hazard, I hit it a few more times and took two putts for a triple. I finished with a bogey on 18 to shoot 75—a 75 that should have been a 71 if I had been able to stay in the present.
Staying in the present is not only important in golf. Jesus told His followers not to worry about tomorrow and gave them a reason: “Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
In other words, the present has enough to demand our full attention without worrying about the future. Jesus’ admonishment against anxiety over the future was a call to focus in the present fully.
When we are fully present, we become fully available for those the Lord allows to cross our path and who need God’s love, His Word, or ministry. When we are fully present we can be fully engaged in our work or whatever task we put our hand to. And when we are fully present we leave no room for worry about the future.
Prayer: Lord, please convict me when I cease to be fully present and indulge in anxiety over the future. Amen.