Golf Balls and Rattlesnakes

One of the little farms we lived on was a pasture away from the Brownfield Country Club and Golf Course. As young boys we thought it was neat to walk along the edge of the golf course (probably the seeds of my love to play the game) and watch the “rich” folks play. I thought they were rich anyway. I knew we were not and I didn’t know anyone, especially any of my relatives, that was a member of the Country Club and players of the game.

One of the activities that we enjoyed was finding golf balls. At that time we thought it was special and that we were really doing something. Actually now I realize that when you put the average golfer together and an extreme rough (woods, water, pastures, etc.)together you get one thing; lost golf balls.

I now know that when those duffers hit balls out into the pastures most of them would not go on foot to find them because there was a real good chance they would find something else. But as young boys who were used to the pastures as their playgrounds that was just part of the adventure and to find the treasures we had to deal with the rattlesnakes.

I don’t mean to make you believe that there was a rattlesnake with every step but they were not unusual. We did not take the dangers lightly and when we heard that unmistakable warning we found the source and carefully moved away. The adventure and the opportunity to find that brand new shiny golf ball was well worth the dangers at that moment in our lives.

One thing I learned growing up on the farm is that sometimes you have to face the rattlesnakes in order to gain the prize. I wonder if that is what Paul meant when he would talk about gaining the prize and in Philippians 3:14 where he is direct when he writes, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” To “press” on meant that there would be some kind of obstacle that needed to be overcome. Paul knew that there were dangers but the prize was well worth facing them.

We face obstacles everyday in the living out of our faith. Here, in most of our communities, we do not have to worry so much about the dangers Paul had to face but we do have our fears and people who would stop us from pressing on toward the prize. Paul would tell you to “run the race to win” and “press” on because the prize is definitely worth it. A young boy easing through the brush of a panhandle pasture would tell you to find golf balls you have to face the rattlesnakes.