“Faithful to Us Always”

            All my life I have been competitive. I have played different sports. My first organized attempt was T-ball at the age of six.  Over the years, whether in an organized league, or just with friends I have played baseball, basketball, football, soccer, volleyball,  “walley-ball” (that’s volleyball on a handball court), ping-pong, pool, bowling and golf. 

In most of those sports I have been at least somewhat competitive. Football and bowling were the exceptions. Six feet, two inches tall and 150 pounds, and the coach told me he was going to put weight on me and make me a lineman. That was laughable. And I can’t seem to hit the head pin in bowling more than two or three times a game. Can’t make the ball curve at all.  I remember the first time I played where the score was kept electronically for everyone in the place to see.  Decided it was not for me.

I’ve reached the age where my only real competitive outlet is golf.  I love to play.  And I can be decent.  I’ve made three holes in one over 40 plus years.  Not long ago I shot a 76, my personal best at Sapelo Hammock. The very next week I shot a 97.  How can that happen?  I’ve told people that the most consistent aspect of my golf game is my lack of consistency. 

The truth is that is okay. I play well enough to enjoy the game, but I have no dreams of giving up my day job to join the senior tour.  I just want to get some exercise, some fresh air and occasionally break 80. 

I think my lack of consistency on the golf course sometimes mirrors my lack of consistency in living for the Lord.  I understand Paul’s frustration when he writes in Romans 7, “I do the very thing I wish not to do…” Sometimes I simply fail to do what I know the Lord has led me to do.  I don’t want to fail. But in my humanity I am unable perfectly to obey. The good news is this. God forgives. And He helps us the next time.  I am encouraged by Paul’s words to Titus. “Even when we are faithless, He is faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.”