The Walking Golf Channel

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todd murner golf sunset

 

The number of golf books, videos, blogs and personal lessons attributed to golf instruction is mind boggling.  The idea generally exists that if a golfer can get some better equipment or better instruction, their game will vastly improve.  No doubt that both of those endeavors may offer some help in advancing most golfer’s expectations into the same galaxy where the reality of their current game exists.  It’s just the nature of a golfer to want to figure it out.

One very distinct element of advancement is explained in a common response from playing partners, “You are suffering from the paralysis of analysis.”  Actually my twin brother likes to refer to me as the walking golf channel.  I seem to have a comment for every wayward shot of my own and for every playing partner.  The truth is that the golf swing of most amateurs is around 1.5-2 seconds long.  Trying to cram fifteen swing thoughts into that length of time is…well impossible.  That’s where the paralysis takes place, too much thought and inflection will rob your swing of the flow and fluidity required for an optimum golf shot.

“But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”  2 Corinthians 11:3

The apostle Paul’s concern for the Corinthian ecclesia (church) was that in the same way that the serpent was spying on and taking copious notes to attack and defeat Eve in the garden was being executed against the simple life in Christ they should be enjoying.  For some reason, the Corinthians had over-analyzed their life in Christ to incorporate elements of the old life in the flesh and their new life in the Spirit.  The main problem was their minds were so confused that they were being robbed of the satisfying and purposeful life in Christ that is characterized by peace and joy.

Just like golf – a life in Christ should be enjoyable.  Who wants to pay a lot of money for equipment and golf course fees, along with expending a large amount of time to just hack the ball around, spitting fire and releasing expletives in the atmosphere all in the name of enjoyment?  It helps one to understand why there are so many cranky Christians and disgruntled golfers who give up the ‘game’.  Neither golf nor the Christ life is an exact science.  You are not going to analyze and figure out either of these endeavors.  Your best approach to enjoyment is to realize that your golf game and Christ life are going to be unique to you and stop trying to optimize it by comparing it to others.  Limit your focus to a couple of key elements that are irreplaceable to you and allow the other parts to flow right along with them.

Stop renting space in your head to all the enemy’s distractions.  Get simple and enjoy the ‘game’!

 

Don’t Keep Driving for Show

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todd murner golf balls

There’s a familiar adage in golf, “You drive for show and you putt for dough.”  The obvious application is that most people spend more time practicing the less important parts of the game.  On average, in a round of golf, you may use the driver twelve to fourteen times or 14% of the time.  In comparison, an average golfer will use their putter thirty to thirty-five times a round which equates to almost 40% of the score.  So, the question arises as to why most golfers spend most of their practice time with the ‘big stick’ and hit a couple of putts right before the round begins.

In bringing this golf analogy into a kingdom life application, the same premise exists, most people of faith spend most of their time on the externals and not enough time on the internal elements of their faith.  Check out this verse:

8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life (perpetuating, reproducing life; dynamo power).  Galatians 6:88

I’ve hear it a thousand times, “Read your Bible, pray, go to church, pay your tithe and offering, witness to others!”  While all of these practices are viable, shouldn’t they flow naturally out of a Holy Spirit-filled life of devotion and desire to bless our Father, Yahweh?  According to the apostle Paul, as we sow to the internal presence of the Spirit, the Spirit will produce fruit (Galatians 5) that will remain.  If someone isn’t constantly scheduling church services, Bible studies, prayer meetings and service projects, most people wouldn’t naturally participate in these endeavors.  This does not make these endeavors wrong, just positioned on the wrong side of a life in the Spirit.  The apostle Paul further explains:

16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.  Galatians 5:16-18

So, what does this mean?  Simply that if you are doing all the outward, ‘drive for show’, Christian disciplines and your score is not even close to what you expect, you may need to focus on a part of your ‘game’ that is less impressive but more necessary to your ultimate goals.  Praying and sowing to the Spirit aren’t nearly as popular as these other churchy endeavors, but the payoff will glorify the Son and please the Father.