Like a fresh of breath air...

I just want to give some encouragement today. I was certainly encouraged. Are you ready for it?

Today I had the privilege of going to a very plush golf course and watching one of the young men in our church play in a Junior Tournament. Now I love golf... I play golf... well... I have clubs. Let's just leave it at that. All in all it was a great day (with the exception of the HEAT). And though the young man I went to watch didn't play particularly well, there was a guy playing in his group that was.

I have never met this young man but I found out his name is Zack. Zack is a sophomore in a High School not far from my home town. I have never seen a young man who had such control of his game. His driving was spot on. I don't think he missed but two fairways all day long. His approach shots were crisp. Unafraid to go for the green, even on the par 5's. His putting was tremendous, able to read the greens with the best of them.

If you appreciate the game like me (I actually watch golf on TV), then you understand the honor that was mine to watch this kid masterful manage a rather difficult course.

But that wasn't the blessing.

When the round was over the golfers, who are charged with keeping up with the score of one of the other players playing in their group, exchanged cards. Once each golf checks their own card they then sign it and turn it in. Zack had the lowest score by 4 or 5 strokes, if memory serves me correctly. As the official was posting young Zack's score he noticed that something was wrong. The official wrote a 70 on the bracket, but Zack knew he had shot a 71.

Zack then checked the score card again and realized the young man keeping Zack's score had written down a wrong score on one of the holes. Now that young man should have written the right score down, but ultimately it is Zack's responsibility to carefully check each his card before signing it. Once it's signed it cannot be changed.

Here's the blessing...

This 15 year old young man walked up to the official and admitted that his card was wrong... penalized himself... which resulted in a disqualification. When I saw what had happened I was crushed that the best player on this particular day was disqualified. I felt terrible for him. But my admiration for this young man went through the roof. Zack's display of honesty may have cost him the tournament, but it gained my respect and the respect of all who were there.

So the moral of this little story is... don't give up on our younger generation too quickly. There are fine, upstanding young people out there who understand the value of honesty.

Oh, and yes, I know the title is worded differently... it's called a "hook".

Blessings,
Heavy D