I learned golf more than 30 years ago while working as a businessman in Panama. At the time, I had to learn the game to integrate into the corporate culture. Later, I moved to Miami, Florida, when I was reassigned as an establishing manager. I bought a new set of clubs and played occasionally with various business associates.
When I moved to Chicago to study theology, I took the clubs with me, though I wasn't sure why, as my studies didn't require them. They followed me through my doctoral studies in Nashville and eventually to Richmond, where I still have that same set.
Today, the big difference is that I am much more serious about golf because of the lessons it teaches. I have discovered three important elements for improvement: Path, Focus, and Power. Since I now practice in my living room, I have realized the following:
- Path: One needs a correct swing plane, from the backswing to the address and through the follow-through. There must be a consistent track.
- Focus: This is about targeting the ball. By following the right path, you must strike the ball precisely. Focus requires both concentration and confidence.
- Power: This is the impact on the ball. Paradoxically, instant power arises when you don't grip the club too tightly. You must remain flexible and give up the urge to over-control the ball.
These three elements apply to life as well. We must acknowledge the right path, stay focused on it, and integrate that discipline into our vibrant daily lives.
Academic VersionI first engaged with the game of golf over three decades ago while serving in a corporate capacity in Panama. At that time, mastery of the sport was a prerequisite for professional integration and social navigation within the business community. This journey continued in Miami, Florida, where I was reassigned as an establishing manager. It was there that I acquired a new set of clubs and began playing occasionally with various business associates.
When I transitioned to Chicago to pursue theological studies, I brought the clubs with me, though their utility seemed questionable in an environment dedicated to rigorous scholarship. Throughout my doctoral residency in Nashville and into my current tenure in Richmond, I have retained this same set of clubs. However, a significant shift has occurred: I now approach golf with a profound sense of intentionality, recognizing the spiritual and existential lessons embedded in its practice. Through my living room practice sessions, I have identified three essential elements—Path, Focus, and Power—that serve as a microcosm for the life of faith.
I. Path (The Swing Plane)
Improvement begins with the "Path"—the consistent trajectory of the swing from the initial backswing to the address and final follow-through. In a theological sense, this mirrors the hodos (the Way) described in the New Testament. Just as a golfer must adhere to a disciplined and repeatable swing plane to ensure accuracy, the believer is called to a consistent walk, aligning one’s "swing" of life with a established moral and spiritual arc.
II. Focus (The Target)
Focus involves the intentional concentration required to strike the ball precisely at the point of impact. This is not merely a mechanical feat but a psychological state of confidence and clarity. It resonates with the "fix our eyes" on the goal (Hebrews 12:2). Focus bridges the gap between the internal preparation of the mind and the external reality of the action, demanding a unity of purpose.
III. Power (The Impact of Grace)
The most counterintuitive element is "Power." True impact does not emerge from a rigid, forceful grip but from flexibility and the relinquishment of over-control. To achieve maximum velocity and precision, one must paradoxically "give up" the urge to dominate the ball through sheer human effort. This reflects a significant theological truth: power is often perfected in weakness or through the act of surrender (kenosis). By loosening our grip on life, we allow a greater, more vibrant energy to flow through our actions.
In conclusion, these three principles—Path, Focus, and Power—are as vital to the spiritual life as they are to the game of golf. We must acknowledge the correct path, maintain an unwavering focus upon it, and embrace the paradox of power through surrender, integrating these disciplines into a vibrant, daily witness.
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