
This has been the headline yesterday and today throughout the world of golf, and, even, "Breaking News" on Fox News/Sports at 2 PM or so CST yesterday. The world is abuzz because an American, who shot 66 on the final day and won a three-way playoff over four holes by birdying the first two holes, just missing a chip in for par on the third and escaping the continuation of "sudden death" when Louis Oosthuizen's birdie attempt slipped by on the final hole of the playoff.
Zach Johnson won the 2015 "Open"!!!!
Was this just a hard-working professional golfer from Iowa winning his second major tournament on the world stage or was it validation of something much bigger?

How do you normally see professional athletes act that don't win or fail to fulfill our, the fans, expectations of them? They get all puffed and huffed up and storm off lamenting about how they should have played better or didn't have their "A" game or whatever..... but, what about this young guy, Jordan Spieth hanging around at the end of his disappointing performance and congratulating this middle-aged, short-hitting, wedge and putting wizard after he displayed the "stuff" of champions at the 144th British Open. This was supposed to be Jordan's second-to-last dance with history. This was not supposed to be Zach's day. But, Jordan was there to congratulate him...... WHY?

Well, enough mystery, the answer I'm alluding to is that these guys are all friends in one of the most competitive of individual sports in existence. But, it's not just because they are friends, it's because they are all ..... wait for it...... wait for it...... COMMITTED FOLLOWERS OF JESUS CHRIST!! These are men who are Believers in Christ and they conduct fellowship or get-togethers on a regular basis to read and study the Bible as well as encourage each other in their lives as Christ Followers and with their families and with their golf games and as men!! This is the real reason these guys are so supportive of each other. Competitive of course, but, friends, Brothers.... "and the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:13).
You see the maxim these men and all of us who are Christ Followers believe is this; What is the greatest commandment? "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" (Luke 10:27)
They are exhibiting this before the entire golf world and the world. They are Giving Others Loving Fellowship (G.O.L.F.)
Could this be a validation of the Lord's attention on these golfers?
I, personally, believe so.
In Him
Bill