PAR

Mark Twain said:

'Golf is a good walk spoiled.'

It's really quite simple: Hit the small white ball into the little hole. But it can be a frustrating game. I really know a lot about this so you should listen to me right now.

It's a competitive game, to be sure - but you're not really competing against the other people in your foursome so much as you're competing against the course and against yourself. It's competitive even if you're playing alone.

Experts say you should be able to complete a course in about 72 strokes, give or take. Par. Every golfer competes against par, competes against how he did last time, competes against how he wants to do this time - against how he wants to do next time.

Striving for perfection -- practicing his swing in his office when nobody's looking. Ultimately he breaks 100, but he is already breaking 90 in his head. When he breaks 90, he's already consumed by breaking 80. It doesn't end. Par - or better.

The perfect game.

That's life.

Every day ... a round of golf. Trying to make par ... or better. One golden day out of a hundred is an eagle day. Many days are bogey days ... some double-bogey days. Few even make it to par. We get in our cars and head home at the end of the day and say, 'What's the use? If I can't get a perfect day in, why even try?'

Because while perfection may be the goal, it is never the journey. To live only for the far-out goal is to live a life destined for frustration.

God's Champions understand that they may live the better part of a century and never quite reach their ultimate goal and yet live lives of boundless joy, success and fulfillment. The joy is in the journey. It is IN the journey.

That guy behind you? He's relentlessly pursuing par -- concentrating on his swing -- adjusting his stance -- keeping his eye on the ball -- practicing the putt. But you? You're watching the skies -- enjoying the walk for the sake of the walk -- taking it all in. It's the journey.

You're way better than just worrying about making par.

And be blessed.