And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28, NASB)
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” (Charles Dickens, Tale of Two Cities)
Last year was the best of times in golf for me. It isn’t supposed to happen at my age, but my handicap went down significantly. Clearly, one of the reasons was I moved up a tee box and I could now reach all the greens in regulation. As a result, golf became even more fun as my career-long aspiration of knowing how to manage my way around a course and actually being able to do it came to fruition. Like most golfers, I will be happy to share with you shot by shot the day I was two under par through nine.
Last year was the worst of times for relationships through golf. We were not allowed to arrive at the course more than 15 minutes before our tee time. No driving range, no putting green. We masked up, walked straight to the tee, and social distanced our way around the course. No riding in the cart together, no walking side by side down the fairway. No handshakes at the end; just get in your car and go home. I mostly played with the same few guys who I knew were managing the pandemic in a similar manner. In the “developing relationships” category, things pretty much came to a halt.
This year has, thus far, been the worst of times in golf. I decided I needed to branch out a bit and play with several groups of guys with the hope of getting to know more people at our club. Unfortunately, I am back to playing the longer course. Ugh. My handicap has been going back up, my confidence has been going down, the approach shots I am hitting are longer, and it is taking more shots to get around the course. Proverbs 10:19 states, “When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable.” The golf equivalent is: “When there are many shots, bad things are eventually going to happen.”
It seems it would be so much easier to simply join a church and make all the friends I need there.
This year has been the best of times for golf relationships. People are friendly and friendships are developing. Each person has their own story and I find them interesting and willing to talk. This is not to say I have not had my moments of doubt. There have been many. I have wondered at times what continues to drive me forward, to pursue developing new relationships and put myself through all that it takes to become friends with others. In one sense, it seems it would be so much easier to simply join a church and make all the friends I need there.
But honestly, that sounds pretty boring to me and, fortunately, that is not where God wants me.
When most people read today’s verse, they usually focus on the “causes all things to work together for good” part. But there is this line: “to those who are called according to His purpose.” It has me. His purpose has me. He has me. In the deepest part of my being, I know I am called for his purpose. It is his purpose that compels me to keep living among the lost. In John 17 Jesus made it very clear he wanted us to be living in the world. “Just as You sent Me into the world, I also sent them into the world” (NASB).
Fact is, I wouldn’t want to be any other place.
—
Bob Kuecker
July 1, 2021
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The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.
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