Many years ago I found myself quickly learning to enjoy the game of golf. Usually this sport would have been absolutely of no interest to me. Chasing a small white ball around is not my idea of a fun afternoon!! However, I happened upon a "relationship" with a semi golf pro...and suddenly I was taking crash courses in this silly sport of golf! Soon into this relationship, I became the "beverage cart girl" where he worked and a new world opened up before me! I completely enjoyed my time there at that private golf course in Indy and developed a love for the peacefulness of a golf course! I discovered that there was something besides running that could provide an opportunity to clear my thoughts...the golf course was a beautiful place to spend a quiet afternoon and provided a great place to regroup.
Fast forward to this past summer, just before leaving Florida in June, my church sponsored a golf tournament for the purpose of raising money for their yearly missions trip to Haiti. I was not able to go on the trip but I offered my services once again as the "beverage/candy cart girl"!! The trip down memory lane was fun, but the few hours away from the daily 3 ring circus of my life with 4 kids was an added bonus.
That day they were offering the golfers the opportunity to purchase "mulligans". This is a golf term that simply means a "do over". A chance at another swing without penalty. A means by which you get a second chance and can chalk the first attempt up to a practice swing!!
That day I felt the touch of God's hand pressing against my heart to search deeper. To ponder this gift of a mulligan in my life. Once again, God was using this simple picture, this idea of "do overs", to remind me of His grace and mercy.
In golf and in life, I've made swings that have put me straight down the center of the fairway. Heading in the right direction toward the green. Though these moments have been extremely few, I do know the feeling of a "good swing" every now and again.
More often than not however, I've made the swings that have left me standing at the edge of some pond, horrified as I watched my golf ball quickly sink to the bottom. My life has been full of these moments and I'm somewhat embarrassed to say its been more than a "bucket of balls" worth. Clearly, I have needed "mulligans", if you will, on a daily basis.
The lousy swings in my life have been terribly painful at times. Huge consequences have followed. Heartache and lost dreams may be part of the deal too. Recently, I'm beginning to see that these bad shots have also taught me valuable lessons on refocusing and re-evaluating where things went wrong. They have better prepared me for the next swing and though I may end up waaayyy over par...I stand a better chance to get there eventually! These attempts have helped to grow me up and given me precious lessons that I have needed for my journey in life.
I am absolutely blessed to have a Heavenly Father who understands our need for these "do overs"! I am thankful to know a God who's love is full of mercy, full of grace, and full of FREE mulligans...for I have never bought, deserved or earned the second chances I've been given. Instead, I've just accepted them.
Mulligans have given me hope. And they have given me a chance to discover where things can go right.
Mulligans.
Second chances.
Do overs.
Hope.
They all seem quite simple, and yet nothing short of amazing!!
