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Birdie!

I stepped up onto the first tee, unusually calm and confident.  Maybe it was because I had had a good practice session last Friday.  Maybe it was that I was once again on a beautiful course, on a warm Fall day, and just happy to be able to have one more chance at playing golf.  I always find hope with each new round: hope that I will do better than the last round of golf; and hope that I have finally developed a bit more consistency with my shots.  Hope that today, I will redeem myself . . .

Of course, with all my confidence came the reality that our two-some would also have another single golf player with us.  But even that did not unnerve me like it had done so many times before.  Maybe, I was finally able to put out of my head the anxiety that came with other golfers watching me.  I have realized that when I am out practicing, I am not bothered by having other golfers right next to me.  I still go through my own routine and seemingly block them out of my mind.  It was time to do that on the course . . . 

It turned out to be the best front nine that I had ever had.  I shot a 47, less than 50!  I had a couple of good pars, and I might add, it's not the easiest course, as there are challenges with many a hill.  I only had two holes on the back nine where "I fell apart," but overall it had been a good day.  I had passed the test of playing with another, and still able to "hold my own with the boys. . . "

Back we went to play another 18 before night would fall.  It was surreal in a way because we had the entire course to ourselves.  Maybe that's  why I didn't even realize what was happening.  I had continued to make good long consistent drives, and on this hole, there was no exception.  Up on the putting green, I had sunk a long putt!  Yea, baby!  I think I just got another par!  So on we went to the next hole.  I sat in the cart writing down my score, when something didn't seem to add up. Let's see, according to the scorecard that last hole was a par 5. Really? If that's true, I just got a birdie!  I kept looking at the card, figuring out the present hole we were on, trying to see if somehow I had messed up, but nope, it all said BIRDIE!

I shouted to my husband, "Hey, I just got a birdie on that last hole!"  He confirmed my findings, and added he hadn't wanted to say anything at first because he knew "I'd go off with excitement."  Yea, you think? After all this time, at least 5 1/2 years of blood, sweat, and tears, I got that elusive birdie!  Blessing has finally come from the midst of pain, practice, failure, and playing just one more round . . .

Life too is mostly practice and hardship, "birdies" are often short lived and few.  But you know, I'm discovering I am okay with that, because it's the journey that I have enjoyed.  It's the process of actually engaging in this world, even when things don't go your way and outcomes are beyond your control.  It's faith in the One who blazed the course before me, who has reminded me daily in His Word, that it's really not about the present path or life circumstances that lie before me, it's rather trusting my swing and going on no matter where that ball may land. He'll provide the strength, wisdom and understanding to take that next shot, and "to keep on grinding it out. . ."

So here I go again, another day and all the hope for one more BIRDIE!     


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