I am not an avid golfer, but recently I joined some of my brothers-in-law and a few of their friends in playing 6 rounds of golf over the span of 72 hours. While I scored a birdie and a few pars over that marathon of 108 holes, my total scores were less than stellar. Surely, I thought, I was meant to come away from that experience with more than just a nice tan on my head and forearms, dozens of bug bites and scorecards filled with sevens, eights and nines...
Thankfully, I did.
My experience of chasing a little white ball back and forth across the countryside taught me all about focus, and the power of focusing on "three little P's" - the Positive, the Present and Purpose.
Focus on the Positive
I could choose to dwell on the shots that I missed, the annoying bugs, and how tiring it was to play so many holes in such a short amount of time. I could also choose to dwell on the shots that connected, the beautiful weather and scenery, and the fun that we had both on and off the golf course. Both would be true reflections of the time we shared. Which would you rather focus on?
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. - Philippians 4:8
Focus on the Present
I would never have made any good shots if I had stressed over past errors or what would happen beyond my current swing. Have you ever missed out on the present by dwelling on the past or future?
"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." - Matthew 6:34
"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past." - Isaiah 43:18
Focus on Your Purpose
While I was on that course my purpose was to hit the ball toward the next hole. I only hit the ball well when I focused on the task at hand. My focus didn't guarantee success, but it made it much more possible. Are you giving all you have to the task at hand right here, right now?
Work hard and cheerfully at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. - Colossians 3:23
So I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step. I am not like a boxer who misses his punches. - 1 Corinthians 9:26
In your life, are you focusing on the three little P's?
Humorist Will Rogers once observed, "There are three kinds of men - ones that learn by reading, a few who learn by observation, and the rest of them have to pee on the electric fence and find out for themselves."
Though he has never braved a real electric fence, Larry understands the above metaphor all too well. His life is more a series of clumsy learning experiences than a polished "how-to" manual.
Remarkably, God has called Larry to share these slices of imperfection and accumulated wisdom with readers from over thirty countries around the world - those fortunate souls who prefer to learn through reading and observation.
Larry's first book, Get the Prize, was published in 2003. He is currently writing his second book, expected to be released in 2010.
He lives in Canada with his wife and four children.