I witnessed a hole in one for the first time as a caddy at Concord Country Club in Pennsylvania while in high school. As a player, I came close several times, hitting the pin, lipping out and hanging on the edge of the cup without falling. Finally, during my 10 year coaching career, I reached this dream during my team’s 4 day seeding tournament in 2006. On the 3rd hole at Frog Hollow, a short par 3 playing about 135 yards, I hit a pitching wedge 3 days in a row. Playing as a marker to insure no cheating took place, I hit the pin on one bounce, ricocheting 20 feet away during the first round, making par. On day 2, I hit a 3/4 wedge that landed just short, hula hooped around the hole, staying out, 2 feet away for an easy birdie. The next day, I hit nearly the identical shot, but this one to my amazement dropped in for an ace. The only draw back is I had to buy drinks, soda, for every member of my team and a few parent drivers. Five years later, playing disc golf with all 3 of my children, I experienced another hole in one on the 18th hole at White Clay Creek State Park, buying slurpees for the family.
To be whole means to stay in one piece, unbroken or undamaged by people, obstacles or trials in life. Synonyms of whole include complete, entire, intact and unabridged. Though the thrill one receives from accomplishing a hole in one is exhilarating, this feeling quickly fades, especially when you hit your next bad shot. On the day I had my one and only golf hole in one, I made double bogeys on 3 of the last 4 holes to shoot 40. After a topsy-turvy round of golf, you get to start fresh with a brand new scorecard the next time you play. Unfortunately, in life once you’ve become broken, scars remain deep within your soul. These memories can haunt individuals like nightmares, serving as a barrier to prevent someone from becoming whole again. When a sin or sins enters life as an impulse, one of the hardest things to do is to forgive yourself once you’ve indulged. When the aftermath of 2 Samuel 11 is exposed by the prophet Nathan in 2 Samuel 12:1-17, King David had to pick of the pieces to his life and reputation.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 