Timing

I love to play golf in the fall.  The crisp air, falling leaves and soon to be dormant grass are reminders that we aren't

in control of the seasons and weather.   My favorite time to play is later in the day so you can finish just before dark.  However, you can't wait too late, or you will be using a flashlight to finish.  There is a window of opportunity and you have to seize it if you don't want to walk off before your finished on the 15th or 16th hole.  It takes a little timing to make it work and a little luck in regard to those playing in front of you.  If they are slow and things back up you can get caught in the dark.  

Hitting the 18th fairway, or green as the sun is going down is an awesome feeling, especially when you don't get to play that much.  A wind shirt or sweater vest is just enough as the temperatures cool.  If you get caught on the course in the dark because of timing you feel like you were shortchanged because you paid for 18 holes.  

Life can be like fall golf.  Timing is everything.  And sometimes regardless of your timing it's going to take some luck because you have no control over the actions and pace of the people in front, or around you.   They can hold you up, or force you to finish in the dark because of their "slow play".  And it's rarely intentional on their part.  But you still pay the price because of their action, or inaction.  

Surfers talk about timing all the time.  It's called catching the wave.  They know the precise moment when to start paddling their boards and when to mount it so the wave takes them in.  If their timing is off they can miss the wave, or wipe out.  Neither is very fun if you're a surfer.  

In life when your timing is off you can miss opportunities, or even wipe out.  It's really an art to know when to start, mount, paddle, or tee off.  All kinds of factors can contribute to the situation.  How do you know when the timing is right?  Practice.  Playing.  Living.  There's no substitute for experience.  And that means we will have times when we wipe out, or don't get to finish.  We make mistakes.  And it's okay because that's how we learn.  And hopefully the next time our timing is better.    

God's timing is great.  When we're in sync with Him through prayer and His word it all comes together.  Yes, there are still slow players out there that hold us up, but God can even use them to teach us lessons about timing and His will.  This week I finished a long  round before dark and I caught the wave.  Thanks to previous encounters when I missed it I knew what to look for and I was sensitive to what God was saying.  He spoke when I least expected it and though difficult, I jumped on the wave.  I'm glad I caught it because it brought great peace.

Need some peace, worried about your timing, or missing God's?  Stay alert, wait, watch and pray.  Listen, look and be alert.  God's at work, even if slow play is ahead of you.  Like Elisha on the mountain wait for the still small voice and then you will know peace.  

¹¹ And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. ¹² And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. ¹³ And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 1 Kings 19:11-13

And when you hear that still, small voice, jump, tee off, or catch the wave!  You won't regret it, even if it doesn't make sense.