“The great secret of any shot at golf is ease, elegance, and the ability to relax.”

P.G. Wodehouse

As most of you already know, I really enjoy a game of golf. I don’t get out there as often as I would like (certainly not enough for muscle-memory to kick in), but it is always fun, regardless of the score.

Probably the best aspect of the game, for me, is the delight of the company of good people. This is curious, because golf is the most individual of sports, and it requires (to do well) almost single-minded concentration.

Maybe this is why I will never be super-good at golf! Because it’s hard to play a delicate shot, or concentrate on your backswing, when one of you is in the middle of a great story, or a deep insight, or poised at the punchline of a joke.

On the other hand, being around people who help me to relax and – most importantly – offer encouragement, is the best thing possible to keep me from thinking too much about my swing. Because, for me, thinking about my swing is the last thing that I need to be doing.

It’s the encouragement part that struck me Sunday afternoon. My friend Chauncey is all about lifting people up, sharing positive thoughts, and bringing out the best.

Maybe it’s because he is a well-digger by trade, the business of going deep to release life and refreshment. Our conversations always tend to end up around living water, and tapping into what is possible, and how God intends to pour the Spirit into us and through us to refresh the world.

Of course that has nothing to do with playing golf. But at the same time I always find myself playing better around my friend, because I feel encouraged and relaxed and – in a sense – free to tap into my natural gifts as someone with good hand-eye coordination.

We are all naturally gifted:

And so this discussion comes full circle. Because what I want to do if I have any influence at all with my friends and readers, is to be an encourager who simply offers the reminder that we all have natural gifts and proclivities to a deeper spiritual life. We were in fact designed for this.

And – rather than make anyone tense up with too much doctrine or denominational politics and rule-following or, God forbid, guilt – facilitate a long deep breath of openness to God’s amazing love and unconditional acceptance…

And then, worry-free, just swing away. Swing away and live our best life in God’s Grace – DEREK