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In the movie, “Bagger Vance,” Will
Smith, (Bagger) plays what amounts to a Golf Angel. For you see, he has been
sent to assist a character played by Matt Damon, (Ranolph Junah) with his golf
game.
But it is not just any game, it is
THE game of his life, for this former amateur golfer finds himself in a match
with perhaps the most notable and adept golfers of his time.
Captain Junah has just come back from
“The War to end all wars,” (WWI) and he has come back a changed man. For during
one especially ferocious battle, every man in his unit has been killed or
severely wounded, and only he has been left unscathed. And as the result of his
heroic actions during the battle, the captain has been awarded the
Congressional Medal of Honor.
Ranolph’s emotions are raw, and he
lacks confidence, and he suffers from what we refer to today as PTSD, but what
was referred to in that day and time as “shell shock.” And it was only the
result of the pleas of the town’s people, and his former sweetheart, (who is
attempting to save the family fortune, and the golf course on which he finds
himself) that he has consented to play the game.
Bagger, who has agreed to caddy for
the captain, had been giving him pointers throughout the game, but to no avail.
But the young man finds himself falling further and further behind the leader.
As Ranolph steps up to take his next
shot, Bagger interrupts his swing, and says, “Mr. Junah, there’s only one
authentic shot, one that is truly yours, and you can’t choose it.”
The captain is miffed to have had his
swing interrupted, and angrily replies, “What do you mean? Of course I can
choose my shot. I must choose my shot!”
Bagger smiles a whimsical smile, and
responds, “Oh no suh, the shot must choose you.”
Now, in terms of the movie, Bagger’s
implication was that for any given hole, on any given course, there is one best
club, one best swing, one best solution.
And I think we can learn a valuable
lesson from our golf angel’s admonition. The first time I ever viewed the
movie, and listened to Bagger’s words, well, it just came to me. There is a
valuable spiritual lesson to be gleaned here.
THE SHOT MUST CHOOSE
YOU
You see, I am convinced, and
scriptures assures us, “My times are in His hands,” (Psalms 31:15) and “The
Lord will accomplish that which concerns me,” (Psalms 138:8) and “Before I ever
took my first breath, You planned every day of my life.” (Psalms 139:16)
If we believe and embrace the truth
of scripture, it is apparent that God knew us by name, and planned all our
days, before we were a twinkle, and even before He made the twinkling stars.
(And we can be sure that He loves us so much more than those magnificent,
astronomical creations.)
Indeed, the shot must choose us. For
any given decision, among any set of options which we encounter throughout the
course of our lives, there is one best choice, one best action, which has the
ultimate capacity to help complete our destiny, and which agrees with our
Lord’s perfect plan for us as individuals.
Now, I’m not talking about what loaf
of bread we decide to purchase, or whether we check our mail at 1PM or 5AM. No,
I’m referring to those crucial, “have to get it right” type of decisions which have
the wherewithal to complete our Heavenly Father’s plans for our lives, (or if
we are oblivious to the best shot, bring us to ruin.)
Indeed, I believe the shot must
choose us, and it is paramount that we get it right. Our very destiny is at
stake. I believe it would be pleasing to God that every one of His children
pray the following simple prayer, and pray it on a daily basis.
“Oh Father, great Ruler of the
universe. You Who knew me before I was formed or ever took my first breath,…
let the shot choose me.”
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