“Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.” (Luke 15:6-7)
One of golf’s great joys is finding a nice golf ball on the course. The flip side of that joy is the extraordinary pain of losing a brand new Pro V1.
It is so unbearable that I never play golf with a new ball. Opening a box of new balls and sailing the perfect white ProV1 off the first tee into the weeds or worse is unthinkable for me. I play only with balls given to me by college players who played nine holes or so with the nugget. Or good balls I have found.
Last Friday, I started with a beautifully used Titleist 4 with a UK logo. Sure enough, a bad swing on the fourth hole sent the ball straight into the jungle guarding the right side. I bid farewell to my lost friend, made a six and moved on. Just another lost ball in the high weeds.
Four days later I was jogging on the same course in the early morning. I decided to wander into the abyss on the fourth hole. Sure enough, my heart leaped with joy when I saw a nice white ball. I soon realized that not only was this a Titleist, it was my Titleist 4 Pro V1.
Oh, the joy! Luke 15 came alive. The story of the lost sheep (Luke 15:3-7), the lost coin (Luke vv. 8-10), and the lost son (Luke 15:11-32) came tumbling through my mind. Rejoice! The prodigal Pro V1 that was lost was now found! And lucky for him, he was not found by some 24-handicapper who would have lost him again in a pond. He was found by his “best friend”—me. I promised him I would never hit him to the right again! I wanted to “kill the fattened calf” and celebrate since the prodigal son was home.
As I returned to my jog, I remembered that the phrase “lost ball in the high weeds” has entered the American jargon. It well describes someone who has lost their way, especially when it comes to spiritual matters.
So my question for today is this. Who in your world is a “lost ball in the high weeds”? Let me first say I hope it’s not you. Is this possible that someone could read this devotional daily but be lost? You have been a success, love golf, and love family, but somehow you’re lost? Success can actually be a barrier to finding eternal life.
Jesus said it squarely, “And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost...?” (Luke 9:25, NLT).
If you indeed feel like a “lost ball in the high weeds,” do us both a favor and email me. I’d be happy to talk in person.
But even if you are not lost yourself, you surely have friends at your golf club in that category.
So here is a final picture. Jesus is in the weeds with a ball retriever around a mossy bank full of weeds. He is looking for lost balls. He knows they are not really lost. He believes they will be found. The lost coin. The lost sheep. The prodigal son. He has left the 99 other balls safely in the bag. He has gone to seek the one lost ball.
This ball has a name. Who is your “most wanted” lost ball? You probably have already thought of someone. Write his or her name on a card to keep in your wallet. Play golf with them. Rake their bunkers. Give ’em putts. Answer their questions. Pray for them. Be ready for the phone call when they need you the most. And last, be ready to rejoice with them.
“We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found” (Luke 15:24).