The Golf Application
The original article “Living Intentionally” was a response to the question prompt “What’s a personal mantra or philosophy you live by?” Since most of my responses in life are first spiritual then material, the article focused on the fact that living a spiritual life intentionally doesn’t happen by accident. I have to choose it. And so do you.
There is a key to intentional living that is so obvious, it seems obscured in its simplicity. In order to live intentionally, a person has to pay attention. The most common response to this statement is probably, “Well, duh?!” But let’s not hastily dismiss what I’m saying. Paying attention is more than just general awareness of my surroundings.
Now comes the golf metaphor. Wait!!! I suspect many of you reading this article might feel tempted to move on at this point. Please, stay with me. If nothing else you’ll read a humorous if not interesting story from my life. At worst, you’ll spend a couple of minutes reading. Nothing ventured, nothing gained…
I am what I like to call a competent golfer. I belong to a league called the Senior Men’s Golf Association (SRMGA) at a local golf course near where I live. By near I mean a 30 minute drive, so it’s not like I can hop in my Jeep and be there in 5 minutes. I have to plan my mornings. I have to allow time to stop for food. I don’t play well on an empty stomach. After stopping for food I have to allow for traffic. Which, granted, at 6:30 in the morning you wouldn’t think would be a problem, but you’d be wrong. Anything can happen at that time of day, heading into rush hour.
My plans to awake at a certain hour allow plenty of time for the food and traffic contingencies. Since I like to warm up on the driving range before my competitive round of golf, and the groups all tee off at 8:00am, I need to arrive at the golf course no later than 7:15am. This allows me plenty of time to practice, then putt in the practice putting area, and be safely in my golf cart and ready to play by 8:00am.
Now, there is one critical step required to ensure these plans are successful. I have to set the alarm on my iPhone and get up on time. One overlooked tiny little detail, regardless of how well I’ve planned my day, can wield incredible havoc to my very intentional plan for golf. If I don’t pay attention when I go to bed the night before, I might set the alarm on my iPhone to PM instead of AM. Go ahead and laugh. But I’ve done it before. Worse, if I don’t remember to set my alarm at all, the same disaster can occur. No golf.
Here’s the thing. The spiritual intentional life requires the same sort of attention to detail as simple as my setting an alarm to play golf. Consider the words of the Wise One from the old testament. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. In all your ways know Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6
There are times in this life when all of us are distracted by whats going on around us. A quarrel with a friend. The loss of a job. The grief at the death of a loved one. An unexpected report from the doctor. These and a thousand other things can make us lose our focus and not pay attention to the truths presented in God’s Word before us. When the world seems spinning out of control, pay attention to God’s voice. Hear God the Son speaking in your ear to your heart and your mind.
“My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful.” John 14:27
This seems simple doesn’t it? While it may be a simple thought, it is not an easy thing to do. The grief, the pain, the loss, the depression, the uncertainty of the future, all these noisy feelings seem much louder and stronger than the words of Jesus. But they aren’t!!! They aren’t louder. They aren’t stronger. But you have to pay attention to hear Him instead of the voices of the world beating like drums day and night in your head.
How do you find this peace?
Pay attention. Heed the good news! Jesus Christ, God the Son, came to give you life abundant, a peace that surpasses the world’s understanding, and life everlasting with Him in Heaven when you trust in Him as your personal savior. Trading the angst of this old life, for the promise of life with Jesus, is the best choice a person could ever make.
But… you have to pay attention.
If you would like to know more about making this choice please contact me by email so we can chat.
