3 up headed down the 72nd - Secure the Victory!

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Golf tournaments consist of four rounds of 18 holes each, beginning on Thursday and finishing on Sunday evening. Every stroke counts. Every great shot, and every average shot and every not so good shot counts towards that final score on Sunday.

You can go out and shoot over par for the first two rounds and IF you make the cut and get to play on the weekend, you can turn it all around and tear the course up for the third and final rounds.

Players tend to be aggressive early on. Hitting at every pin and putting extra umph in each tee shot to get it further down the fairway, leaving a shorter approach shot to the green. Unfortunately, the potential for disaster is there when that extra is put into a shot, rather than the smooth normal swing that has consistently shown desirable results.

We tend to want MORE THAN ENOUGH from so many facets in our life. I remember contemplating the purpose of life, and wondered when was enough enough? When do we reach the point when quantity loses to quality. When do we stop having to accomplish more and more? Make more money, get more things, tack on more titles to our name?

Some of us never get to the place of peace that surpasses all understanding. Learning to happy whether with or without material blessing. Some of us never stop thirsting for more. And as I see it, dying frustrated while reaching for another goal.

Mind you I'm not against aiming for the stars.

But if you watch a golf tournament and a player is ahead by three strokes and headed down the final hole, trust me on this one, they'll hit less than a driver and just smooth one down the fairway in a safe manner. They're on cruise control headed for the finish line. Their blood is pumping and the enrgy is high, but their minds take over and reign in the excitement to go Go GO!

Then they'll hit their approach shot to the final hole, conservatively toward the center of the green. It doesn't matter where the pin is, front right, back left or back center. You aim for the middle of the green.

You exhale when it lands safe. Walk up to the green to throngs of cheers, tip your hat, mark your ball and allow your fellow player to hole out and again you conservatively snuggle a putt up close and then tap in for the win.

Not a very exciting way to finish, but your name goes on the trophy to be remembered for ever in the sport's history books and you get the biggest check and the many other benefits of a tour win follow your career for ever.

My life was certainly controlled by Mr More. "I want more than enough," I'd slur at a bartender who asked me if I'd had enough and wanted to discourage me from getting uglier and more stupid.

A near death experience of being shot in the back of the head at point blank range changed my rhythm forever and all that followed has been blessing. Restored relationships, repaired finances, mental & physical health. Finally climbing out from under a funk to let the Son shine in my face and make mature decisions.

Good attracts good and when it rains it pours. More than I can ask or imagine, my wife is beyond compliment and adoration. She was an Angel flying too close to the ground that GOD has allowed me to help heal. In fact when new encounter's ask me the perpetual imminent question, "what do you do?" I respond with, "spoil my wife!"

Yesterday we were seated on our front porch just enjoying the close of a wonderful Saturday. I watched a couple of swallows / sweeps, flying about for an evening meal. Their world is more multi-dimensional than ours. Every direction is available at will and with little limitation.

I've often desired that realm. That freedom. I can feel complete freedom at 120 miles per hour headed for the earth from fifteen thousand feet, jumping out of a perfectly good running aircraft.

As we sat there yesterday, I spoke aloud that I was going to go ahead and get certified in sky diving. I wanted to be able to jump on my own and do some stunts, rolling around limitless... if even for a short period. The go up and do it again and again.

Anita just looked at me. She didn't say a thing. I asked if she objected, to which she responded, if that is what you want to do, then go for it!" But I felt there was something else in her eyes. I didn't pursue it.

Today as I watched the final round of the golf tournament at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, NC., as fellow Irishman Rory McIlroy, went through the process of "Securing the Victory, hitting conservative shots to the green and now accepting the winners trophy & check, I realize that I'm on on that 18th tee and it's time to reign it in and control the excitement.

I'll not go jump out of a bunch of airplanes and take unnecessary chances on my life which violate my life insurance policy.

I AM a thrill seeker folks. And with Anita in my life, blessings too numerous to fathom, I am more than thrilled and in the best place I've ever been! I've been given many second chances and I made the cut by one stroke. I want to make a lot more cuts and play on a lot more weekends. I'm aiming for the center of the fairways and greens from here on out.

As the lady in the pulpit said today, "all the glory to GOD!"

Amen ~ So be it!