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Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life
by Tom Kelley
Our English is, I am told, unique. We have words that have more than one meaning, more than one spelling, more than one pronunciation as well as meanings with more than one word for common usage. And we wonder why some immigrants don't learn English. Maybe we should call our language American. I seriously doubt some stodgy Englishman would be caught dead speaking as we speak. But enough of the introductory material, the preface, the hook.
The word "choke." As a verb it can mean to strangle someone, have a problem swallowing or become emotional. As a noun it is a device on an engine to assist the gas flow in starting. However, there is another use of the word. In athletics it is often used of one who snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. I can remember accepting the invitation of a friend to come to her school and read to her students while I was a student at Johnson Bible College near Knoxville. The school was one of those old time country schools.
I selected several books and a few poems. One of the readings was "Casey at the Bat." As I finished reading my friend asked the children what happened in the poem. One anxious little boy raised his hand and she called on him to answer. "Casey choked," was the reply. Indeed, the mythical Sultan of Swat failed to deliver in a game winning situation. This past Sunday with his first U. S. Open title right in front of him for the taking, Phil Mickelson choked. Needing just a par to win and a bogey to force a playoff, he double bogeyed the final hole.
Such is the sport definition of the word, "choke." Mickelson on the 18th at Winged Foot in Mamaroneck, New York, is the quintessential example of the word. You don't double bogey with the U. S. Open on the line. Not when you're the number two ranked golfer in the world. Not when the tournament is all but gift wrapped and handed to you. That is what choking is all about. When "IT" is right there in front of you and you can't deliver even though to do so would seemingly be easy; that's choking.
We who are Christians have heaven right in our headlights. All we need to do is hang on to Jesus to the end. "For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God and put Him to an open shame." Hebrews 6:4-6 Now you know what it means to choke in God's world. So?!? Don't choke.
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...He was the Minister of the Minorsville Christian Church located near Stamping Ground, KY.
...Becky and Tom have three children; John, single and in worship ministry in Nicholasville, Kentucky; Sean, married (Jennifer, elementary school teacher) with twins (Grace and Patrick, b.d. 10/31/04) and regional director of Papa John's Pizza in Central KY; Kara, married (Vince Taylor, prison guard) and working with Hospice East in Winchester, KY.
...Tom went to be with the Lord on November 13, 2009 after a lengthy battle with cancer. If you have been touched by Tom's writings please send an email to Tom's son at jkelley@catalystchristian.net
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