Have You Lost Your Swing?

There’s an old song entitled, “I Gotta Be Me.” Sounds simple enough, but sometimes I wonder who ME really is. What would I look like if I really was ME? I am a “people-pleaser” par excellence. I’ve lived most all my life to gain approval and acceptance from others by trying to be what THEY wanted me to be. There were times when I didn’t even know who the real ME was.

As I have previously stated, God has changed the filter of my belief system. I see God, life, people… most everything… in a different way now. I’m learning that God did make ME just the way He wanted me to be. I’m also seeing how the real ME has been remodeled over and over in order to fit in with the expectations of others. Now I am learning to distinguish the original from the fake.

One thing my new filter has changed is the perception that God makes no distinction between sacred and secular. You can experience God in a country song, a secular movie, a football game, the routine of work… in everything and not just religious stuff. God spoke to me the other night while watching once again one of my favorite movies of all time…

The Legend of Bagger Vance.

Bagger, played by Will Smith, is a caddy for a golfer and local war hero from Savannah who returned from the war with deep emotional scars and a lost golf swing. The community was suffering through the depression and a golf tournament was scheduled to boost morale and raise money for the town. Bobby Jones and Walter Hagen were solicited to play against hometown hero and alcoholic, Rannulph Junah. Hardy, a young boy who idolized Junah, secured a job from Bagger as his forecaddie.

The night before the big match, Bagger takes Hardy out to measure the course. Hardy asks, “Do you think Mr. Junah can win?”

“He can if he finds his authentic swing,” Bagger replies.

“Au… then… ic?” queries Hardy.

Bagger explains… “Inside each and every one of us is one true authentic swing. Somethin’ we was born with… somethin’ that’s ours and ours alone. Somethin’ that can’t be taught to you… somethin’ that can’t be learned.  Somethin’ that’s gotta be remembered. Over time the world can rob us of that swing, and it gets buried inside us under all our woulda’s and coulda’s and shoulda’s. Some folks even forget what that swing was like.”

Bagger tells Hardy to keep putting so he can read the green. Deep in thought, Hardy responds, “But I don’t have any balls.”

“Don’t worry about hittin’ balls, Hardy, or where it’s gonna go. Just swing the club. Feel the club. Just keep swinging.”

Bagger told Hardy to close his eyes and just swing the putter and feel its rhythm. As Hardy swung the putter slowly and smoothly back and forth, Bagger placed a ball in front of him. When Hardy felt the thud of the ball, he opened his eyes just in time to see the ball roll right into the middle of the cup. If the cup was as big as Hardy’s eyes, no one would ever miss a putt.

As I sat there on the couch, Papa whispered to me, “You need to listen to Bagger. You have worried so much about the outcome of the shot and what people think about you, you have forgotten to swing the club. If you just keep swinging with your own authentic swing that I gave to you, the ball will end up right where it needs to be. Remember that golf, as well as life, is a game to be played, not won. I’ve already won the game. You just keep swinging.”

Blessings,

Kenny