The Faithful Servant
“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
On a hot summer’s day in the late 1990s, I was playing in the North Florida Chapter Championship as a young PGA Teaching Professional. The event was held at the Timacuan GC in Lake Mary, Florida. I loved the competition of playing in our section events, and for someone who had just turned professional, I looked at these tournaments like they were “majors.”
They say in life you can only count on two things, death and taxes. Well, an addendum to that statement might be the heat and humidity of Florida in July. As I walked onto the tee box of the final hole, I started feeling somewhat faint. I was playing well, but the combination of heat, adrenaline and nerves were starting to take their toll. As I look back on that day now, with a touch of silver and recession in my hairline, I realize that mentally I was carrying an extra load from the excessive heat, one that led to confusion and uncertainty.
Although I was somewhat out of sorts standing over the ball, I found the middle of the fairway with my tee shot, just past the 150-yard marker. I paced off 3 yards, putting me at 147 yards to the center of the green. I then looked at the pin sheet and started doing the math. I immediately started getting confused. The pin was back left, but I could not do the simple math to come up with my yardage.
I had no caddie to rely on as I fumbled with the numbers. “How can I hit my next shot if I don’t know my number?” I thought to myself. It was now my turn to play, and I felt all eyes staring at me, as if to say, “Let’s go while we’re young!” I was lost and confused in the heat of the moment.
Reluctantly, I started my pre-shot routine, but there was nothing routine about what I felt inside. As I stood over the ball, I was embarrassed to admit that I had not committed to my approach shot and still had no confirmation of the yardage. As one might expect, I hit a poor shot, leading to a double bogey.
That day, I learned some valuable lessons that I pass on to all my students. First, the importance of proper hydration before, during and after a round of golf. I also gained a new perspective on the value of a caddie— someone to calm a nervous soul, confirm a number and point a lost player in the right direction under the pressures of tournament golf.
I often think of this story and relate it to my journey in life. So often, life has a way of beating me down. It could be divorce, work, living situation, debt or simply being stuck in traffic. Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to give our problems to someone else, feel internal peace, and not worry about the outcome?
I have often said that one of the biggest advantages and greatest assets TOUR players have is their caddie. TOUR players compete under tremendous pressure, and no matter how seasoned a player may be, the pressure sometimes is overwhelming. The faithful caddie is a confidant, a valuable member of the team who is more than someone who carries a bag for a living.
This faithful servant is often a rock of encouragement a player leans on during a difficult day on the course or a calming presence when the player is about to win a championship. I needed such a presence in my life many years ago on that hot, summer day.
I now have such a caddie leading my life journey. His name is Jesus Christ. The scriptures say it best: “Cast your burdens on the Lord, and He shall sustain you” (Psalm 55:22). Sometimes, the Lord asks me to do my part, my chosen work, but He never leaves my side. In the game of life, choosing to go it alone or rely solely on our own resources or talents can be a dangerous propo- sition. We all need guidance on our daily walk; we were not designed to go it alone. Seek and choose the Lord
to be your faithful servant, to share the journey. Follow His lead, trust His number and rest in His comfort. You will find this decision to be the most important shot of your life! GT