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Golf is an interesting game. It is a game of yards, and a game of inches. It is a game of power, and a game of finesse. It is a game of ability, and a game of imagination. However, it is also a game of cliches. No, you're not seeing things. You read that right. Cliches. You know, bumper sticker stuff. The quick phrase that summarizes thousands of years of information. Cliches. If you neither play nor watch the game on TV then you may not know this. Allow me to enlighten you as to the ones that mean the most to we golfers.

Cliches are, in a way, an explanation for not playing well. "I didn't make a putt all day," is golfer speak for having too many three putt greens and not being able to hole a par putt when it counted. "Never up, never in," addresses the fact that a golfer is leaving his/her putts short which usually leads someone else to remark, "Ninety percent of all putts left short never go in." "Time to let the big dog eat," is a golfer's way of announcing that he or she is going to try to hit the ball a long distance off the tee. There is one cliche that I want to address at length. I hear it a lot out of golfers. It is comprised of three simple words; "I looked up."

Let me share something quickly. The average male golfer struggles to break 100. He hits his tee shot somewhere between 200,225 yards. His normal shot pattern is a slice or a push. As for hitting greens in regulation, he does, but only on rare occasions. The cliche, "I looked up," explains most of these ills for the average golfer. If there is something the average golfer doesn't know it is the reasons for his lack of power, inability to hit the ball straight and missing most every green in regulation. For the average golfer, "I looked up," says, "If I could just keep my eye on the ball, I'd be great."

For the average golfer, "I looked up," is much easier than learning the game of golf. It is easier to use that cliche than it is to correct a faulty swing (lack of power), implement the proper grip and stance (lack of direction control), or knowing what distance he hits his iron shots as a result from constructive practice rather than just beating balls with a driver (lack of greens in regulation). "I looked up," excuses all those things for the average golfer. In the kingdom of God there is a cliche. Perhaps you have used it before. "I can't do that," has been spoken by any number of people to the point where it has taken on cliche status.

If you use it, you may be robbing yourself of a life full of God's power, blessed with His purpose and meeting goal after goal for the Lord. "Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might (Ephesians 6:10)," should remind the Christian that they operate from God's strength, not theirs alone. "Always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you (1 Peter 3:15)," should renew the truth that the Christian's purpose is not to just live a good life, but to let others know why. "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith (2 Timothy 4:7)," should establish the Christian's continual goals of growth and accomplishment in the Lord. After all, life in Christ is not a cliche.

"Inspiration For You" from Randy Mitchell

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