You’re Welcome: Using the game of golf to get help in life

“ In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” Romans 8:26-27 NIV

I have been looking forward to using one of my Christmas presents that would hopefully improve my golf game. This driver was a gift from a friend of mine who was tired of seeing my pathetic drives with my $50 golf club I bought last summer when my driver split in half. He said he got a great deal on it and knew some people who helped. I was grateful and looked forward to getting through the winter to get back on the tee box.

The snow melted, and we finally got a chance to play and use the new club. Here we go! As my friend watched from behind on the tee box, I went through my shot routine and lined up to hit the ball. Boom! The ball shot off the club like a missile. I have never hit it so hard or straight. The only thing I heard behind me after launching the enormous drive was my good friend with a simple, “You’re Welcome!”  Finally, I was playing with the big boys and not 100 yards behind everyone else on the first tee.

A few weeks later we were golfing again, and my putting was atrocious. My driving was ok. Remember the new driver? But the putter in my hand felt like a sledgehammer. It was one of those rounds that had me guessing every putt no matter the distance. A few holes into the round I was watching my buddy putt a short little “gimme”. That’s what we call putts you should make. I noticed his stroke did not change with the shorter putt. It was the same as the longer putts. He simply followed through with the putter keeping it straight. I had already missed my putt and when we had finished the hole, I took my ball to where it was when I missed the putt. I told my friend I saw how he did it and wanted to try it. I pulled back the putter, followed through and the ball rolled 15 feet right into the hole. Once again, “You’re Welcome!” I think he also followed with a “Yep, it works.”

My friend has been a big help on the golf course and in life too. God desires to put people in our lives who can help us be our best. I would not be where I am today in ministry and my relationship with Christ without the people who helped. This is the role of the local church. People to do life with. I know there are those who think they know it all. They are like the people who you play golf with that don’t believe in the gimmies. There are no mulligans in their world. Sure, they have a good game, but nobody likes to play with them either. So yes, the local church is not perfect, but we still need it. There are good people there who God will use to be a friend. Like my buddy, they may even buy you what you need to help a terrible golf game.

There is also the Holy Spirit. The best life caddie anyone can have in them. Notice that I say in. The Holy Spirit lives within us as believers. He is that help Jesus promises. My life continues to change as I study God’s Word and pray with His leadership. The Holy Spirit helps me learn how to apply lessons that help me be a better husband, father, and pastor.  It is His role to help us. When Jesus ascended into heaven, He told his disciples that He was sending the Holy Spirit who would guide and teach them in all things.

The best friend anyone can have is Jesus. He is a friend the Bible says that sticks closer than a brother. Jesus told His disciples that they were His friends. He let them know that friends talk. They help. They do not leave each other in the dark. They tell the truth and help us overcome. Like my friends Christmas gift to me. It helped! When we look to Jesus, we can see what He is doing and then do that. Kind of like learning how to putt. “Yep, it works.”

Notice the help we have in life. Jesus, the Holy Spirit and the local church. The three working together to help us live better. Using golf as the analogy, life is going to be full of bogeys, believe me. The sand traps and water hazards are real. In life, a birdie is bound to have a few bogeys that follow. But we do not need to settle for the bogeys in the round of life as that is all there is. Believe me, I can settle for bogeys on the golf course. Shooting one over par is a win for me many times. But do I want to stay there in my game or get better. I want to get better. To do that, I don’t have to keep driving it 100 yards shorter than others. I can decide to learn how to putt. To do this it takes my friends. Jesus, the Holy Spirit and the local church. When we have these friends and listen to them when they help. Receive the love and support they give, we can stand up tall in the tee box of life and when we stripe the drive down the middle we can hear them say,… “You’re Welcome.”

P.S. If you are not a golfer and have no idea what a birdie, par or bogey is you are not alone. So here is something to help.

Par – The standard number of stokes a good golfer should make to complete the hole.

Birdie – One stroke better than the standard number.

Bogey – One stroke worse than the standard number.

You want pars and birdies in the game of golf. Eagles are good too.