Nebraska Synod ELCA

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless God’s holy name.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all God’s benefits—

who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases;

who redeems your life from the grave and crowns you with steadfast love and mercy;

who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like an eagle’s.

—Psalm 103.1-5—

Beloved in Christ,

I started playing golf during my first year of seminary. Internship in Florida provided a year-round opportunity to play and an abundance of cheap courses, and I took full advantage of both. By the time I accepted my first call, I was good and hooked on what many people have called “a good walk spoiled.” I’ve played in searing heat and in heavy rain, on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, in the mountains and along the Platte, in early morning dew and dusky evenings with cicadas serenading me up the last fairway.

Some of you are wondering how any of this is related to faith. Well, our theme this month is “Cultivating Re-creation” and golf is one of my favorite recreational activities. I believe that playing golf and following Jesus have some remarkable similarities. For example:

1. Consistency is key. The thing you hear most often from golf instructors is the importance of a consistent, repeatable swing, developed through regular practice, that puts the ball where you mean to send it as often as possible. Ditto for discipleship: we follow Jesus through consistent, repeatable practices that remind us who we are and whose we are, as regularly and reliably as possible.
2. Every swing is unique. Arnold Palmer. Tiger Woods. Annika Sorenstam. Jack Nicklaus. Nancy Lopez. These are some of the most successful golfers we’ve known, and each of them swung the club in their own particular way. The fundamentals are often similar, but how they get put into motion to become a golf swing is an equation with limitless possibilities. Discipleship is similar: we can’t follow Jesus if we’re looking around comparing how we follow to others around us. You’re a disciple unlike anyone else: follow Jesus in the way that works for you.
3. Drive for show, putt for dough. A “driver” is the club used to hit the ball the greatest distance, and many good golfers can really hit the ball a long way. But golf is a game that scores each stroke the same whether it’s a 300-yard drive or a 3-foot birdie putt. The small shots matter as much as the big ones, perhaps more. A disciple of Jesus knows that small acts of grace or kindness often matter as much or more than big, flashy acts of forgiveness or generosity.

The most notable similarity I can think of between golf and discipleship is this: when it works right, it feels effortless and rewarding all at once. The experience of striking a golf ball well is a bit magical: your whole body has aligned itself and moved in what feels like a symphony of coordination, and as the ball zooms toward its destination, there’s a sense of well-being that is hard to quantify in words. There are moments in our life of faith where a similar experience can grab hold of us: a life-giving conversation with a friend or family member; accompanying someone through a particularly hard time; coming to a new understanding of a scripture passage through study, prayer, and the Holy Spirit; all of these are moments when everything feels right, as if we’ve become exactly who we were meant to be all along. That, my friends, is justification: being aligned with God and God’s intent for us. In faith, and in golf, you never forget that sensation, and it’ll always keep you coming back for more. May your cultivation of re-creation be rewarding and effortless, friends: blessings to you all.

Yours in Christ,

Bishop Scott Johnson