Back when I was golfing regularly – an eternity ago – I carried only two wedges in my bag. These are the clubs you use to chip your way onto the green. I still carry only those two wedges: sand and pitching. You use the sand wedge to hack your way out of the sand bunker. In my case, that either takes at least two attempts, or it goes sailing over to the other side of the green. Then I grab my pitching wedge and after at least three attempts my ball is finally on the putting surface (green). I score eight or nine strokes on a par-4 or par-5 hole. Aaaaannnnnnd you’re no longer wondering why I haven’t played regularly in an eternity. Then there is the humility in watching the pros play on T.V. they carry many different wedges of varying degrees, like the precision of a 64-degree wedge. Come on. Please. And they typically hit their wedges as far as 160 yards. That’s like a 3-iron for me. Come on. Puh-leez!!!

Other wedges are culinary in nature: potato, lemon, lime. Some wedges are tools. Some wedges are driven between us and others. Between us and God. These are far worse, sadder than my disastrous swings of a golf club. I have never seen such times in my life as I’m seeing right now. So many wedges between us politically. Our opinions, our interpretations and perceptions exacerbate the differences. When we communicate poorly (can you say, “sound-bytes”?) or not at all, all empathy and understanding is lost. With God, our shame and guilt lie to us, telling us how unworthy we are. We keep God at arm’s length. We allow wedges to be driven, and our hearts become hardened. The most victorious heroes of our faith have all experienced this.

Wedges have become the bane of my existence, both in golf and in life. Maybe it’s best if I keep those wedges in the golf bag. Even the pros most times around the green opt for the putter rather than chipping with a wedge. It’s smoother and you can keep the ball on line better. That way also I won’t be tripping over the wedge when I slam it to the ground in disgust over a poorly hit shot. I can still enjoy and admire with great humility how the pros make it look so easy. Read Philippians 2:3. We can choose not to be selfish or conceited; instead consider others better than ourselves. Those who play golf better than you. Those who are worthy of our respect, our empathy, and most of all the unconditional love of God.

Pastor Art