Fairways

Five people have now told me that they find God on the golf course. “It’s so beautiful and peaceful out there,” said Joan. “It’s not the golf that gets me to the course,” agreed Stephen. One friend offered to pay for a round at any course in the country. Another suggested that I search for God exclusively on golf courses, and call the book, “I’m looking for God in the fairways but keep getting lost in the woods.”

Millie—who I met last week in the parking lot of a hiking trail in Sedona—said she finds God through Qigong (pronounced she-gong). An ancient Chinese system of energy medicine, Qigong combines breathing, movement, and meditation to promote health and vitality. Millie began practicing several years ago, when she was seriously ill and her blood platelet count reached a life-threatening level. In a short time, she no longer needed medication—a cure she deemed unexplainable. “The fact that I don’t understand it is proof to me that there is a God,” she said. “And the conscious breathing remains a path.”

Tony finds God while running around the Lake of the Isles in Minneapolis. Struggling to capture the sensation, he said, “It happens all of a sudden—a feeling of calmness; everything is all right and nothing bothers me. It only lasts about 20 seconds, though.” Laughing, he added, “I just wish I could extend it!”

Some contend that there is only one way to God. Generally, I don’t doubt such a believer’s sincerity—or the efficacy of that chosen path. But I’ve already been privy to such a wide variety of heartfelt encounters that I can’t help but conclude that God wants to be known—and places few if any limits on one’s method of discovery.

“There are a thousand ways to kneel and kiss the ground,” observes Rumi. How many more avenues must lead to God?

A month into my journey, I think it’s safe to say that there are many “fair ways” toward the Divine—both on and off the golf course. We may get lost in the woods more than we’d like. But God, as it turns out, is easier to find than most of the balls I’ve shanked into the trees!

I think most of us, like Tony, yearn not only for engagement with God, but also for ways to extend the encounter. I hope to address that desire in future reflections.

In the meantime, I invite you to weigh in. How do you connect with God? And how do you prolong the experience?

I hope you’ll share your insights on the CONTACT page.

(Tucson, AZ)