Let all that I am praise the Lord;
with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.
Let all that I am praise the Lord;
may I never forget the good things he does for me.
He forgives all my sins
and heals all my diseases.
He redeems me from death
and crowns me with love and tender mercies.
He fills my life with good things.
My youth is renewed like the eagle’s! – Psalm 103:1-5

I had such as good day yesterday I almost feel guilty. Note I said “almost”! Joy can absolutely be a part of daily life even in the midst of global catastrophe. Maybe I should go further and say that, “Joy must be a part of daily life, because it helps us to keep everything in perspective.”

I started out with a walk while it was still in the low 40’s, then I enjoyed a relaxed coffee with Rebekah before breakfast. After breakfast we did our morning devotions. Then I played golf (60-degrees and sunshine) with my good friend, George. Golf was pretty much invented with “social distancing” in mind, so we got to be together at the same time as following all the guidelines. After coming home Rebekah and I went to the garden center to select some herbs for my kitchen garden. Then, after sharing a wonderful meal, we enjoyed a quiet evening together before I finished the day with another long walk in the cool, sweet spring air.

Photography:

This time, because we were each required to drive our own golf cart, I had extra room on the seat. So I decided to bring my Nikon SLR along. Looking at the course through the lens of a camera is a whole different perspective. We played at The Crossings, just off 98 and almost as far as Durham. It’s a quirky, tricky, well-designed layout that is beautiful, challenging, and all kinds of unique. Hitting the ball a long way doesn’t count for nearly so much as landing your ball in the right spot.

So I am sharing these photos as my devotional guide for today. Scroll through enough of the images to give you a sense of the beauty that is our North Carolina Piedmont in the springtime. Then take pause, and thank God for the daily blessings we enjoy that are so easy to take for granted.

Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name.

It’s another beautiful day, and I am so very grateful – DEREK

(these pictures are in order. I’ll try to caption each image according to its hole number)

clubhouse

bridge to hole #1 (background)

bridge to second green

third tee and fairway

cart path – #3

#3

#4 tee

#5 green

#6 green

#6 green – tricky par 3

#7 tee and fairway (dogleg left)

#8 tee and green – long par 3

#8 – turkey

#8 – bridge and green

#9 fairway – dogleg right and across water

#9 fairway

#9 bridge and green

#10 fairway

#11 fairway

#11 green – protected by water

#12 green – lots of water – tricky hole

#12 causeway to green

#13 fairway

#14 fairway

#14 tee

#14 fairway looking back to tee

#14 cartpath

#14 green

#14 green – George putting

#14 fairway

#15 – long par 3

#15 – difficult par 3

#16 fairway – long par 4

#16 – a real challenge

#16

#17 fairway – par 5 looking back toward tee (out of sight)

#17 – looking back from behind green

#18 tee box – severe downhill to green

#18 vista

#18 – looing back up the fairway

#9 green from clubhouse

made 5-foot put on 18 to break 80!!!

18th fairway – North Carolina-based author Derek Maul is excited because he just broke 80 for the first time in a long time!