Tinkering or Totally New

The birds are back. The ones that chirp incessantly early in the AM before the sunrise. A harbinger of the warm weather to come. So, instead of wanting to don my elmer fudd hat and rifle, I just embrace the noise as good news - time to work on my stroke. My golf game has been in hibernation, until last year, and someone gave me a golf book for my birthday so I have been reading - tinkering or using a new grip. Often, we try to keep our core practices and add on bells or whistles or small improvements. That is easy. Hard is tearing up your old strategy or habits, like a golf grip that works for you, and spending a little more time with a new grip. More work and time to get to a better game. As is with the Gospel...the Gospel does not improve you or help you make small adjustments. It is changing everything about how you looked at life and how you carry yourself. And it is not easy and will not be short. But one day, you will stand on the green and sink in that putt and feel pretty good about the hole that you played.

John 3:5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.

Drafting

The recent spate of warm weather has me thinking about outdoor fun in the sun in the months ahead. I want to go hit some golf balls, swim, and ride. The latter activity, if one races, which I do not, can be extremely exhausting. When I have occasion to watch speed cycling -- think the 1970's movie, Breaking Away, which some who are reading this were just a glimmer in their parents' eyes - or not even yet. yesshh...makes me feel old. Let's move on. While speed cycling, you can see it is about speed but also about strategy. The maneuvers. The darting in and out and between your opponents. On the longer stretches of road some employ a strategy of letting others lead. The strategy of staying among the leaders and staying within striking distance of victory. These riders will ride behind the leaders to catch a draft - let someone else cut through the wind - let someone else take the onslaught of the wind -- because it may seem inconsequential but having someone else cut through the wind and take the cumulative "punishment and wind force" helps conserve energy needed for the last leg of the race. Someone has already ridden in front of us. Someone has taken the punishment and given us the victory.

Matthew 9:2 "...Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven."