Golf and Life's Priorities

I am writing these words just after I have played 18 holes of golf. Monday is not really my day off, but it was just too nice a day to pass up the opportunity. One of my fellow pastors tempted me into doing it. I in turn tempted another pastor to leave his duties and indulge in the game.

I don't have much talent for golf, but I have a great talent for tempting others to take off from work and play the game. I find that in temptation a heavy dose of theology works well (Satan also tried this with Jesus). My most effective lines are: "This is the day which the Lord hath made for golf." & "It would be a sin not to play golf on a day like today."

I do believe there is some good theology here. There is an old Jewish saying to the effect that on Judgment Day God will hold us each responsible for His good gifts that we did not enjoy. In that sense it would have been a sin not to have played golf today (those of you who really had to work are excused).

There is that part of the Christian message which tells us to deny ourselves and take up our crosses. That is certainly a valid part of the biblical message. However, we need to hear the equally valid part of the biblical message that God desires us to enjoy His creation and His good gifts.

This is the theme of one of my favorite poems (I don't know the author):

If of thy mortal goods thou art bereft,
And from thy slender store two loaves alone to thee are left,
Sell one, and with the dole
Buy hyacinths to feed thy soul.

If you are ever looking for a golf game, give me a call. My schedule is always flexible.

C. David Hess