Holy Golf

March 31, 2017
Being There

There was a chasm between me and my Dad even though he was just an arms length away. He could hardly hear and hardly see. I traveled quite a distance to be there and I brought my daughter and grand kids to meet him. We were all excited to see each other but after the initial hugs and kisses there really wasn't much to discuss because his hearing aid just produced "Charlie Brown" noises.

He's staying with my sister. My brother-in-law bought a humongous HDTV for him but he couldn't hear even when the volume was set at full blast. Last I saw my bro-in-law was tinkering with a wireless headphone that connected to the TV but there were still some bugs.

At first I was frustrated thinking that we weren't bonding as planned. But later on, I realized that the conversation was secondary to just being there. Do you know that feeling?

To him, just seeing us and seeing the kids jump around and play with my sister's dogs was enough joy to sustain him.

Years ago my church mate, Engelbert, told me that when his son prematurely died he was furious at God. He was so miserable that he locked himself in the house and refused to see anyone. Even his wife was afraid to go near him. One day his best friend came knocking. He cursed his friend at the door and told him to leave but his friend took all the insults in and refused to budge. Engelbert gave up screaming at him and allowed him to shadow his every move. Wherever Engelbert went, his friend would follow. But his friend never said a word. It must have been days ... perhaps weeks and that's all his friend did --- follow quietly. Engelbert finally used up all of his curses and anger until he finally accepted his fate. The sun started to shine again.

Engelbert said he should have killed himself if not for his silent friend.

Of course other people handle heartaches differently. I visited Heather today (remember I talked about her 2 weeks ago?). Her son passed away and I knew she shouldn't be alone. I didn't plan to talk much but our conversation jumped from topic to topic. Heather's an amazing conversationalist and for her talking is how she copes.

Sometimes we hesitate to reach out to those who are hurting or those who are alone because we don't know what to say or do. We forget ... I forgot ... that our presence alone may be all that is needed. Reach out and touch someone? Yeah, do that. Words would be nice but really ... no words necessary.

If only you could be silent! That's the wisest thing you could do.
— Job 13:5 —

TGIF people!

Holy Golf
Contributed by Pete of Virginia
(an Oldie but Goldie)

Moses, Jesus, and an old man were enjoying a friendly round of golf together.

Moses stepped up to the tee and hit the ball. It went sailing over the fairway and landed in the water trap. Moses then parted the water and chipped the ball onto the green.

Jesus stepped up to the tee and hit the ball. It went sailing over the fairway and landed in the water trap. Jesus just walked onto the water and chipped the ball onto the green.

The old man stepped up to the tee and hit the ball. It went sailing over the fairway and headed for the water trap. But, just before it fell into the water, a fish jumped up and grabbed the ball in its mouth.

As the fish was falling back down into the water, an eagle swooped down and grabbed the fish in its claws. The eagle flew over the green where a lightning bolt shot from the sky and barely missed it.

Startled, the eagle dropped the fish. When the fish hit the ground, the ball popped out of its mouth and rolled into the hole for a hole-in-one.

Jesus then turned to the old man and said: "Dad, if you don’t stop fooling around, we won’t bring you next time."

God's Problem Now
Contributed by Tom of Pasadena, CA

His wife's graveside service was just barely finished, when there was a massive clap of thunder, followed by a tremendous bolt of lightning, accompanied by even more thunder rumbling in the distance.

The little, old man looked at the pastor and calmly said, "Well, she’s there."

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