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October-December, 2016

Playing Golf

by Rev. Larry Glenz, O.M.C.

The sport of golf had little attraction for me until recently. I haven’t played much in my life. But I feel now like I have been guided to start playing as I enter these senior years of life. I borrowed a friend’s old set of clubs, took a few lessons from a pro, and started hitting golf balls six days a week. This has been going on for over 2 months now.

Today, for my 66th birthday, I received a new set of Callaway clubs from my wife. I feel like the 8-year old Larry who got a brand new baseball glove for his birthday after first playing with his big brother’s old cast off. I can feel that same sense of little kid excitement today.

I woke early to go to the driving range to fully experience all 12 new clubs. After coming home for lunch I went back out to another golf course for further practice with my new possessions. My friends and family are quite surprised by this sudden devotion to a sport in which I previously showed so little interest.

I do feel Holy Spirit’s Presence in all this. This, however, is the first time I have spoken of it. I am not going around telling people, “God wants me to take up golf.” But I am quietly putting Him in charge of this new adventure. And I definitely like it.
Old friends with whom I have been out of touch are now inviting me to play. Some have been playing over 50 years. It does seem to be quality time — playing and catching up on each other’s lives while riding around in a motorized golf cart for five hours in nature’s beauty. I’m having a great time socially.

But like anything else, one improves only with practice. In this it reminds me of beginning the study of A Course in Miracles more than 20 years ago. I had very little spiritual background when I first started the ACIM Workbook. But once I started I never put the book down.

Without realizing it, I was then being invited by my Higher Power, Holy Spirit, to follow a pathway of Light. My family and friends were very surprised back then to find out I was immersing myself into this little known program of spiritual psychotherapy. I was surprised, too, but the positive experience kept me going. I started to enjoy talking to God.

One could question, “Is this a valid comparison — playing golf verses devotion to God?” Well… there seems to be a connection on several levels. My father, Marshall, was an avid golfer and was always a bit disappointed that his two sons never shared his passion. I find myself talking to him again — to his spirit really — while I am playing. I can almost hear his voice kidding with me as I make poor shots. When my father passed away in 1991, connecting to his spirit invigorated me with a new experience of Inner Guidance.

Now, I am also using each potential golf shot as an opportunity to repeat the ACIM lesson of the day to myself when addressing the ball. Today I’d say to myself, “I give my life to God to guide today.” (Lesson 233) Then I swing the club.

Letting Holy Spirit guide me while playing golf has alleviated much of the stress and frustration that comes with the natural desire to play well. I have a long history of being a competitor. Staying with Spirit helps me keep my sense of humor with an acceptance of what often seems like an unsuccessful outcome.

Although I am a poor golfer, I am confident that I will get better. I feel certain that I am being encouraged by Spirit to play golf for reasons that I don’t know. I trust the process and will try to put Him in charge.

This will take some effort on my part because, to tell the truth, I’m a pretty lousy golfer right now. I have a tendency to let loose with a few violent screams now and then. But Holy Spirit works in funny ways. And I am laughing.
“Fore!”

© 2016, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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