This course is absolutely beautiful. It is real easy to get distracted just by the beauty of the course and how nice of a day it is.
But we came to play and so back to the task at hand.
This particular hole is open down the left side and the right side is tree-lined. So we will just focus on going left or left center.
Good solid contact but it had a little fade to it. Looks like we landed over on the right side (of course!) but we'll have to see the spot of the ball before getting too upset.
With the spot of the ball it looks like we have a straight shot at the green...
....as long as we can move the 50 foot oak tree that the ball rolled up to.
OK so we have a couple of decisions here.
If we were just goofing off with a bunch of friends we might use "the foot wedge" and give the ball a kick from behind the tree.
Or we might declare "winter rules" (even though it is the middle of the summer) and say we don't want to damage the course by taking the shot and move it out as to cause no damage to the delicate new growth (50 foot tree "new growth", I know but some play that way).
A lot of players would just look around to see if anyone is watching, and if the coast is clear just move it and hit it before anyone can see the spot.
Or there is option #2. We could play the ball as it lays. Take out a club and just hit it back in play in the fairway and go on. Because we got ourselves in that position by our Tee shot.
The second option is the right way to play and the honest way to play.
It would be real easy to just move the ball a little and have an easier time of this hole.
But, sometimes it is the tougher situations that are meant to build our character and our skills (both in golf and life).
Life situations present us that same option.
Sometimes we are in difficult places and have to make a decision.
We can get upset and say, "life is not fair" and be controlled by the situation, or we can see it as a building block in our life to be who God truly wants us to be.
James 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
It is easy to say well "It will be OK this one time", "no one will know but me", "really, what's it going to hurt, nobody here knows me".
Common phrases you may have heard in your head before. But if we take this life serious we have to play right.
We have to let our character speak at all times, regardless of who is watching.
1 John 3:6 No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.
Hebrews 10:26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left,
John 10:27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
Sometimes the "correct shot" when playing by the rules, is a lot tougher in the present. But it pays huge dividends down the road.
So next time this game of life puts you behind a tree. Remember who you are and whom you represent and take the shot you know you should.
Philippians 2:14-15 Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.
Take the shot...build Character....reflect Christ.
Well the tree didn't help us on this hole. We ended up getting on in three and missing the putt for par. So bogey on the hole but character was displayed on the course!
On we go. Through five holes we are one over! Hole 6, Par 4, 444 yards...
No comments:
Post a Comment