Dear Friends,

Lately I have been working on my golf swing and I have to admit it has been a most frustrating ordeal. Just when I think I have an idea that will propel my game forward into par and birdie bliss, I hit the double boogie wall and a cloud of doubt and discouragement settles upon my golfing soul. But in the process I have discovered just who created the most perfect and beautiful swing in golf.

His name was Ben Hogan and he played in the 40s and 50s. Ben Hogan was a very quiet man from Texas who weighed only 140 pounds. They told him that he was not big enough, strong enough or good enough to ever make it in the professional ranks. Ben didn't say much. He just went out and practiced from early in the morning until late in the day. Day after day, month after month, year after year he practiced, practiced, practiced, practiced.

He picked up some tips from time to time but basically he developed his own swing which has become the basis of the modern golf swing used by almost all the professionals today. Despite his small size, Ben learned to maximize the efficiency of his swing and he often hit the ball farther then his much bigger counterparts. Yes, Ben didn't talk much . . . he just let his swing do the talking, and they are still talking about it and trying to emulate it. If you want to see pure poetry in motion, check out the short You Tube video of Ben Hogan explaining how to hit the ball . . . http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QL_6M_xZvq0

Another young man, many years ago, was also quiet and unassuming. They told Him that He would never make it. Day after day He practiced the spiritual disciplines until there was created a very unique and powerful life within Him. In the end, He let His cross do the talking . . . and they have been talking about it ever since.

It is Easter week. We all know who had the best spiritual life. Let us not be discouraged but practice anew the spiritual disciplines of reading God's word, prayer and being a blessing to others that we may begin to reflect to a small degree that beautiful cross.