Daily Jewel

by pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK
Feb. 6, 2012

“Go For It!”
“Get wisdom...get understanding…” – Proverbs 4:5

In a couple of months one of the most prestigious and revered events in all of sports let alone in the game of golf will take place in Augusta, Georgia—The Masters. For those who know me—you know that I love the game of golf. Many believe it to be “boring” to watch, and those would probably be the ones who have no interest or appreciation for the sport. I, however, take the complete opposite approach because I both appreciate and enjoy the game of golf. I am certainly not very good at it—in fact I am downright horrible but I will continue to play it as long as I have the physical ability. The reason why I enjoy watching The Masters, has to do with watching those who are truly “Masters” in the game.
For those who are familiar with the game of golf—the goal is to reach each hole with the least number of “strokes” possible. In the process there are a number of elements on each course that are designed to provide a challenge for each participant. These elements are known to the golfing world as hazards. A hazard is anything that impedes one’s path to the ultimate goal and that is putting that little white ball in the hole in least number of strokes (swings) possible. On any given golf course these hazards could include but not exclusive to the following: Trees. As much as I love trees, on a golf course a tree is not a golf ball’s best friend. The more trees there are on any given course the greater the probability you and nature will be very close friends. Sand traps. Sand belongs on the beach or in sand boxes. Take a close look at the word, sand trap. I lost four strokes on one hole thanks to one of these traps! Reptiles. No, I am not trying to be funny. I was playing on a course in Texas one time called, “The Cliffs.” The name itself caused golfers like myself to break out in hives and if at any time your ball went out of bounds any effort to retrieve that ball was discouraged by the probability that rattlesnakes could be lurking in the brush. On another occasion I was playing a course in the beautiful city of Orlando. There were signs posted throughout the course with this warning: “Alligators. Search for lost balls at your own risk…but we do not recommend it.” That is what I call a hazard!
And then there is the worst hazard of all—water! When your ball finds the water (as mine has done far too often) the only thing you can do is take out another ball, add two strokes to your score and then go on. What is worse is when a water hazard is in front of the “green,” the place where the hole is located. When you know there is water in front of the green you have one of two options: (1) You can choose to “lay-up” in front of the hazard. This means you probably will not make that hole “under-par.” Or, (2) You could try and “go for it.” Take the chance of hitting over the hazard while knowing if you do not make it your score will be worse than if you were to lay-up. Last year at one of the four major tournaments, the PGA Championship, professional golfer “Bubba” Watson did just that. During the last round he and Martin Kaymer were neck and neck. Neither had ever won a major tournament so for both this was an opportunity of a lifetime. Toward the end of the last round instead of playing the holes safe Watson, not just once, but twice, “went for it!” He ended up losing by one stroke—but his statement explaining his actions were right on. He said, “I play to win the game. If you do not want to win then why play? If I had the chance to do it over again I would do the same thing.” Solomon is telling us in this verse to “Go for it!” Don’t lay up. Don’t settle for shooting par when you can do better. Get it, he says! Get wisdom…get understanding. Get everything that God has made available.
In this life there will always be hazards that attempt to impede our journey. It may be people—it may be issues—it may be alligators or rattlesnakes, disguised as things are trying to steal our joy—our hope—our passion for life. (See John 10:10 for more on that!) Just as in golf what I have learned is that when my ball goes into one of those hazards the best thing to do is just let it go—get out another ball and just keep playing! I was once told by a friend who was a very good golfer that hazards are mental. If you ignore them they will not bother you. I would like to say his advice changed my game but sadly…it did not. What I can say is that it has not changed my attitude toward the game and I continue to play it with the intention of attempting to get better at it. And the way you get better is listen to advice—and keep on playing!
Are you discouraged because things are not going as you think they should? Are you not as far as you think you should be in your spiritual life? Keep playing. Go for all that God wants you to have. Don’t let life’s “hazards” get in the way of doing your best. And when given the choice of “laying-up” or “going for it,” my advice is…swing away!
Pastor J. T. Carnell