Standing over a golf ball, ready to hit, it’s prudent to look up and assess the situation. A few years ago, my mind was always focused on avoiding trouble. Don’t hit into that sand trap. Stay away from the lake. Keep away from the trees.You learn, however, that problem avoidance is a poor way to approach the game of golf. It’s very difficult to program your swing to NOT do something and expect good results. Instead, you stay focused on what you want to do. Identify the target. Locate a safe place to land. Select the right club. Let your natural swing do the rest.
For six months now, I’ve been wrestling with (mostly avoiding) a tough question: what am I so afraid of? What is it that keeps me going all in? I’ve made mental lists of possible fears. Death. Being laughed at. Uncomfortable conversations. Loneliness. Poverty. Loss of status. Etc. Etc. (You can tell now why I’ve been running away from the question, right?)
So Monday morning, I’m spending some time before God and it suddenly hits me. I am totally focused on the hazards. The sand traps, water hazards and trees before me. The truth is – it doesn’t matter what I am afraid of. Because instead of trying to scurry away from fears – I should be running towards fearlessness.
So today I’m asking myself some new questions. What can I do to make myself bolder, more confident, more trusting in my walk with Christ. For I don’t need to overcome my fears – I just need to strengthen my resolve.
9 comments:
before i read your post the first thing i did was look at the photo.
first i saw the shapes...it looked like waves at first, then i saw the lighting on the grass, oh, what beautiful light! all along i realized it was a golf course and i know that i first thought for an instant...why is ed posting about golf...then the beauty of the photo took over. i actually did not focus in on the flag on the green until after i read the post.
i like the way that golf was used as the way to explain how your focus was changed.
a moment of reflection. these words were brought to my attention today. i thought how very amazing a moment is, and i thought how we do not really understand even how small or how big a moment really is. we have no concept of what God is doing outside of the time that we experience.
i love the title.
FORE!!!! wack! let er fly!
also the word BOLD has been brought to my attention lately as well. interesting.
anyway!
interesting thoughts here, ed.
i suppose if we so choose, we can be afraid of a lot of things. there are plenty of things to choose from.
but, like you said...the "do" of a situation might be the better focus for us than the "don't".
grip it and rip it Ed, grip it and rip it!!
this song was on the blog "the walk". i had not heard it before but thought it good lyrics.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSsMsVEDFjs&feature=related
And the pain falls like a curtain
On the things I once called certain
And I have to say the words I fear the most
I just don’t know
And the questions without answers
Come and paralyze the dancer
So I stand here on the stage afraid to move
Afraid to fall, oh, but fall I must
On this truth that my life has been formed from the dust
God is God and I am not
I can only see a part of the picture He’s painting
God is God and I am man
So I’ll never understand it all
For only God is God
And the sky begins to thunder
And I’m filled with awe and wonder
‘Til the only burning question that remains
Is who am I
Can I form a single mountain
Take the stars in hand and count them
Can I even take a breath without God giving it to me
He is first and last before all that has been
Beyond all that will pass
Oh, how great are the riches of His wisdom and knowledge
How unsearchable for to Him and through
Him and from Him are all things
So let us worship before the throne
Of the One who is worthy of worship alone
I liked what you said at my place Ed.. keep feeding your inner man and maybe those fears won't seem so big.. not that I am an expert :)
Ed, thanks so much for visiting my blog - and I'm so glad that I came over here. This post really hits home for me; I am very guilty of focusing on all of the hazards and not on the objectives in my life, and this was a great reminder.
I'm going to add you to my blog list; I really want to come back and see what other insights you have.
How are you coming with your questions, Ed?
I'm echoing tk here... you're ready for this!
Greetings from CT. Yes, I am spending too much time wrapped up in politics, but only a few more days for that. Kingdom building, on the other hand, never goes out of style. Have taken the lead on two big community service projects at church, which along with a new small group I'm part of, has helped me reconnect.
Nancy - thanks for the "God is God and I am not". Sad as it sounds, I forget that sometimes.
TK - bold words coming from you (cause you know you're standing in my line of fire!)
Matt - I think I first came to your site back in February (right after you went to the Obama/Kennedy rally, if I remember correctly). Had linked over fromo Kansas Bob, who does such an amazing job at helping people find each other. Sorry I haven't been around much lately, but that's changing for the better.
Erin - keep stopping by to give me a kick in the rump - always welcome.
:)
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