The story is told about a very gifted young golfer whose unlikely victory at a major tournament catapulted him into the sport’s spotlight. Wide open fairways and plush greens were worlds away from the inner city that raised him. A broken home, subsequent stints in foster care and a finger deformity on his hand always threatened to handicap him in the classroom, but never on the course.
Golf proved to be his getaway. To eek out a living, he bussed tables at the country club grill and then bussed it back to the city when his shift was over. Coincidentally, his big break came when he broke a glass trying to clear a table. The condescending stares would’ve scathed him had it not been for the local pro who left him the biggest tip of his life:
“A guy like you should be driving balls, not stacking plates. Pitch the apron for a pitching wedge and play the back 9 with me.”
The rest is history. This no-name was a natural…and now he’s in the news – his swing and his story. One day the phone rang. On the other end was an Arabic prince who not only admired his talent, but was inspired by his story and invited the young golfer to spend a week at his palace in exchange for a few golf lessons. It was a no-brainer, really, and besides, who could turn down a free trip out east when he’d never seen the coast?
The week’s experience was royal. Literally. Sitting in the lap of luxury made sitting in the seats of the local transit a distant memory. The golfer was humbled by the hospitality and the prince was honored to receive the lessons. Accordingly, the prince insisted on a parting gift.
“O no, sire. That’s not necessary,” the golfer protested, “Your having me at your home was rewarding enough.” However, the prince kept pleading with him and the golfer finally gave in. “Alright, alright. If you’re intent on giving me something, how about a new golf club? Every time I make use of it, I’ll think of you.”
The prince smiled, nodded in approval, said goodbye to the young golfer and assured him he’d receive his gift. Months later, the golfer never heard from the prince and never received a package large enough to contain a potential putter, driver or iron. One day, however, certified mail was delivered to his doorstep and to the utter shock of the young man, inside the envelope was the deed to the 427 acre golf club where the former bus boy got his start just years earlier.
Beyond the golfer’s ability to fathom, the royal one was prepared to live and give on a wholly different level. King-sized gifts are difficult to comprehend by putter-sized people who would never dream of being recipients of such extravagance. So it is with us and the Lord. So it is with the season of Lent, the 40 days leading up to Easter. Lent is the letter addressed to us scrapers of scraps: “My thoughts are not your thoughts and my ways are higher than your ways.” (Isa. 55:8) “For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, so that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16)
“Don’t go looking for a putter. The gift is greater than that. God charted the course with a wood.”
Prepare the way,
Pastor Jake