FORE! ! ! ! !

Today was truly a funny and amazing day!

I was out playing golf with a friend of mine.  We were having a GREAT TIME. . . talking, solving the problems of the world, and just having a wonderful time.  (Although my golf score would never testify to that!  HA)  

On the 14th Tee, we were on a Par three that was elevated and made it hard to see the green.  As I teed off, instantly, I knew I was in trouble.  The ball was headed for a large tree to the right and just in front of the green.  It hit the tree and bounced around.  We soon lost sight of it.

My partner said "Don't worry, I don't think you are in trouble."  And off we went to find out where our golf balls had landed.

His was just to the right of the green, but not in any trouble.  On the other hand, I couldn't find mine anywhere.  We both searched and searched, but to no avail.  Finally, I looked up into the tree. . . and there was my ball. . . about 25 feet up, sitting in the tree as pretty as you please.

We both laughed and laughed!  ( I tried to lobby for the fact that this should have counted as a hole in one. . . but my partner would not have it.  HA)  In fact, my partner went on to say, "I have NEVER seen a hole in one. . . but I have NEVER SEEN THAT HAPPEN EITHER!

I had to stop and take a photo (Which is above and to the left.), and we talked about that the rest of the game.

The truth is. . that was a HORRIBLE SHOT!  And it really cost me in terms of my score as well. . .but is still was the funniest thing I have seen in a long time on the golf course.

Isn't that the way life is too?

Many times, try as we may, life does not "turn out" the way we plan.  We can try to do all the right things, and even work at "getting the shots just right", but sometimes. . .it just doesn't go the way we planned.

We are in good company when that happens.  The Bible is FULL of stories of things that didn't go as they were planned.  People who think they have everything set up just right, and every situation thought out. . . only to find that God has OTHER PLANS.  I know my life has certainly been that way.

The question is, "What do we do when things don't happen as we planned?"

The truth is, we can react in several ways;

1.  We can moan and groan about the problems that have come our way, and become bitter.

2.  We can give up and do something else.

3.  We can learn from the challenges before us, and try to do better next time.

4.  Or we can laugh, and enjoy the new development. . . and move on!

Today, I chose to do Number 4!  Sometimes, you just have to see the humor in what has happened, enjoy the surprise of the moment, and just move on.

Truthfully, many of the things that develop in our lives ARE funny. . . if we can just stop and see the humor.

Why not accept the challenge to smile and laugh at yourself when things don't go as you planned, and just move on?  You may find it is JUST the medicine you need!

Give it a try this week!  And if I'm on the golf course. . . you might want to keep your eyes peeled too!  HA

See you on the Road!

STEVE