Life is a journey: one whose outcome is the sum of all the things we do and those we abstain from. Our choices determine who we become, no wonder they say we ought to make them wisely. Sometimes we go through stages in life where days come and go. No worries, no plans, just morning, then evening, and repeat. It may seem a nice, simple way to live but not quite because the direction of our life will then go where the winds of fate blow us. This may not necessarily be where we want to end up, and the further we allow ourselves to be blown away, the harder we will have to work to get to where we want to go.
The converse of this is living life with intention and purpose. Waking up every morning with the question ‘Why am I here?’ The last couple of days have been very insightful. Ever watched a golfer play? They determine where they want to ball to go and based on this, they then decide how hard to hit it, what club to hit it with, and then focus all their attention on getting it there. If anything distracts them even for a bit, the ball seems to have a mind of its own and it goes completely off the intended path. That is why they say you cannot play golf unless you relax your mind and free it of any potential distractions. The most important shot at a game of golf is the tee. It determines how likely you are to successfully conquer a hole. Each hole has a set number of shots needed to get the ball into the hole. A wrong tee-off and one may have to make extra shots. But what happens if the player tees off wrong? They get a chance to save themselves with their next shot. They have a chance to course-correct by hitting the next ball harder or more strategically depending on where it landed.
Our life relationship can also feel like a game of golf that starts wrong. We may have expectations for how our relationships and careers will turn out, and big dreams of the many achievements we will have attained at a certain age. Then life happens and we miss our mark. The marriage may fail, the job may come to an end, or the wrong financial choices result in a financial crisis. That does not mean we are doomed, neither does it mean we are to remain at our low point. So long as we have breadth in us, we can make amends. One soured relationship should not deter us from finding a happily ever after. Who said we cannot change our careers in our forties or start that business we always wanted? But it takes courage, tenacity, and an abundance of faith to get there.
Peter in the bible was not a golf player, but he helps to affirm that our focus is important if we are to stay on course. He one day asked the Savior if he could walk on water. It had never been done by any human before, but he believed that if the Savior said yes, it could be done. With faith in his heart, he did the impossible; he walked on water towards Jesus. But only until he took his eyes off Jesus and began noticing the waves. He forgot the purpose of getting onto the water, which was to get to Jesus, he forgot that focusing on the Savior was needed to get him there and so he began to see the waves that were raging around him. They did not begin when he looked around, they were there even as he stepped out onto the water, but they did not bother him. But because of this distraction, Peter began to sink. What he did after that saved him from drowning. He called out to Christ for help. He course-corrected and brought his focus on what truly mattered. He made a comeback.
The Bible in Mathew 6:33 says ‘But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.’ In other words that should be our focus. Not the pursuit of wealth or fame, not the next better car or house but the Kingdom of God. When we wake up in the morning, the question we should ask is what should I do today to get to the kingdom of God? How will my work and life align with this goal?
But sometimes we have teed off so wrong we have lost the ball, or are so far out to sea, sinking deeply in the waters of life and forgetting our purpose. At that point, we do as Peter did: we call on the Savior to help us out, and He is faithful. He will not let us drown. He will lift us and bring us to Himself, allowing us to get back on track and reminding us that we do not have to do it through our strength. The Lord who calls us also gives us what it takes to do it. The author of Hebrews says that Jesus the Good Shepherd will equip us with everything good for doing His will (Hebrews 13:20-21). We only need to come back home and put our faith in Him again. We can make a come-back; just call on to Jesus!
