“In every walk in with nature one receives far more than he seeks.” – John Muir

I sure am glad that North Carolina is so beautiful. Because it really helps now that my golf game has sunk to such a low place!

Saturday I had pretty much determined to simply enjoy playing and leave my camera alone, but a few of the views spoke to me so I couldn’t pass them up. What the views actually said was, “Forget the golf, buddy, it’s a lost cause. Just take a look at us and you will feel better about the whole day.”

Not so subtle, but truth nonetheless.

This is, I am convinced, one of the reasons I enjoy playing so much. It’s the fresh air, the lovely views, the company of good people. And also, believe it or not, the golf itself. Once in a while I will make a great swing, or chip the ball just so, or see a putt drop. But not so much this weekend.

What’s funny is how upbeat I am about my game. Even though I barely played from June through November I drove up to the course with all the confidence of someone who routinely shoots in the 70’s. Except that I am not that person. Yet I still think of myself as, “A guy who could easily shoot the occasional 79.”

So this makes me either A) super-connected to what is possible… or, B) just plain delusional!

Life is Loaded with Possibilities!

In all seriousness, I am convinced that the answer is “A.” In fact, it’s a life principle worth considering (not being delusional but the idea of The Possible). Each new moment offers a fresh opportunity to get things right… going forward. It is always possible to set a new course, to set the trajectory in a positive direction and to then continue on that path.

Fact is, every new day we wake up to is potentially a crossroads in our lives where we can shift gears, make positive choices, and be the best possible version of ourselves in this moment, and the next, and the moment after that….

And in the meanwhile, take a good look around at this beautiful world! This is the context in which we get to make good choices, and to understand that our future is not determined by our past, and to be grateful.

I believe that God created us with this innate ability to step into the positive as a key element of what it means to be human… and also to understand our integral connectedness to the divine and God’s plan for our lives.

Proof positive:

Here’s a golf illustration to wrap this up. My friend Chauncey thought his drive on 16 was going out of bounds… it was, but it kicked back in. His next shot was an impossible and improbable “thread through the gap between those trees” Hail Mary… it worked, landing him on the green. Then he dropped an unlikely but perfectly executed 30-foot putt.

My point is this. We all face exceptionally challenging situations. But it is absolutely true that anything is possible.

We follow the God of The Possible. Here’s a chorus we sang a lot when I was a teenager. Let’s see if I can remember the words:

So as I face tomorrow,
With its problems large and small,
I’ll trust the God of miracles,
Give to Him my all.

Give it all to God. No holding back. It is the only way to activate what is more possible than we ever imagined! – DEREK