This week I played in the Champion’s Tour Insperity Pro-Am. I do some executive coaching for Insperity so they invited me to play. I was paired with David Duval, former world number one who also shot a 13 under 59 in a PGA Tour event in Palm Springs to win. What a delightful day. He is a wonderful and gracious man with a heart for his family and others. Overcoming so many injuries. He is searching for his game.

I saw many other players that I grew up with in my profession and either officially worked with or had unofficial behind-the-scenes mental game conversations with along the way throughout the years. And like me most of them are limping a little, dealing with one thing or another. They are special people. I was reminded of the first line of my book, “How can a game have such an effect on a man’s soul.” David is searching for that magic once again… hoping to catch lightning in a bottle. One rookie out there, that would be a 50-year-old, hugged me and said, “It's hard out here. These guys are so good.” He then said this. “I had my best round out here last Sunday, had seven birdies but three-putted the final green. Still thinking about the three-putt, so mad about that.” It was a similar conversation we had 30 years ago. His soul was more affected by one poor hole versus the seven birdies. Another rookie I know well and who is financially set for life is still yearning to get out there and prove once again he still has it. He is to be commended and I applaud him but again I think about that line in the book. The game gets in the soul. And finally, one pro was holding court and telling all who would listen how he got drunk for a week after he miraculously won a major back when he was on the PGA Tour. I could see deep in his eyes that the hole in his soul was not filled by the major or the week-long party that followed. He is still chasing and searching for that something that the Bible calls “peace.”

And then today my wonderful son-in-law who has just started learning the game, a rookie to the game, said that he was so happy because of his round today. I was happy for him, but I was reminded that just last week he was so frustrated by the game. We had a fun talk about how the game has a way with the soul. But he chimed in that in the end, only Jesus can fulfill. And my heart was happy for him, knowing that he will have many ups and downs as he learns the game; but he is starting from a firm foundation. He is set for eternity and the game will not take him out.

As I told you all last week, we have moved back to Texas. We have learned to hold houses, locations, jobs, and possessions loosely not allowing our souls to be overly affected by any of it, so that we can be led by the Voice that comes from the One that has filled the hole in our hearts.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

- Romans 15:13 NIV

Reflections From A Pro-Am