He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.” (Colossians 1:15-16 ESV).

Lorne Rubenstein is one of my favorite golf writers. He is the co-author with Tiger Woods of “The 1997 Masters: My Story”, plus “Moe & Me: Encounters with Moe Norman, Golf's Mysterious Genius”. I must confess as an amateur “author” that I envy people like Lorne who figured out how to make a nice living writing about his passion— which is golf.

His greatest work, in my view, has been “A Season in Dornoch” (2001). The book inspired me to spend summers after retirement in Scotland- a dream which is now partly true. My wife Sue and I go to Scotland on June 27 and will be in and around Dornoch for six weeks. The brain clears and the legs walk. The golf ball bounces but that is secondary to the fresh air and the sights and sounds of the ocean side Links. Noisy seagulls and waves splashing are routine sounds as you navigate your way around the golf course. The scorecard is almost irrelevant. Sweaters in July are especially comfortable. The early morning tee times around 7am are the best. The brisk walk with a white ball and a friend takes less than three hours and leaves time for a 10am breakfast. I need to stop typing. I love to write about Links golf almost as much as play it.

Three years ago, I heard the news that Lorne was speaking one evening in the Royal Dornoch clubhouse to the members. Sue and I parked on the front row, hoping to learn wisdom from Lorne and his beloved Dornoch—both the town and the links. After his talk, I met him and arranged a golf game which created a sweet memory.

When he spoke in the clubhouse, I took notes, knowing that something would be worth a memory. Recently, I ran across my scribbled notes in an old file. Lorne had said, “…the door to the invisible must be made visible”. I had also jotted down, “art, theatre, music, culture, more than a sport”.

Since I could not remember much more, I emailed Lorne, hoping he could explain why my spine tingled when I heard “the door to the invisible must be made visible”.

He emailed me back, and I quote him with permission:

“As I recall, I was referring to what art can do for the viewer. This is what Dornoch does for me as I roam the links. It provides a door into a sanctuary where images and feelings hitherto invisible make themselves known. I recall that the few words exploded in my head and awakened me to the spiritual feeling Dornoch can provide. I can feel it here as I write on a snowy night in Toronto far from the place that means so much to me…the door to the invisible opening as wide as the panorama from the 7th tee down and across the links.”

Lorne is right. Golf is capable of being a ‘sanctuary where images and feelings hitherto invisible make themselves known’. Pity the millions who only believe in the Visible, who have never entered the ‘sanctuary’.

In some ways, this is the story of Scripture. We start with Moses, who saw God “face-to-face”, yet “endured as seeing Him who is invisible.” (Hebrews 11:27 ESV).

The Apostle Paul saw Jesus and found his primary message about who Jesus was: “He is the image of the invisible God…” (Colossians 1:15 ESV).

Paul must have preached that message all across Asia, “… we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”
(2 Corinthians 4:16-18 ESV)

Paul banked everything on this Invisible God, perhaps because he had been knocked off his horse by a very visible and blinding Light. “But I received mercy … that in me, as the foremost [sinner], Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Timothy 1:15-17 ESV).

Jesus Christ came to show us “the door to the invisible must be made visible”.

Many thanks to my friend Lorne, who reminded me that a walk on the Links of Scotland can open the doors of Heaven to anyone paying attention to the Creator’s glory.

So, pay attention. Open your eyes. When Jesus called his first two disciples, John and Andrew, he asked them, “What do you want?” They answered with a question, “Where are you staying?”

Jesus’ answer was profound. “Come and See”. (John 1:38-39).

The invisible God had become visible and now, He invited those special young men to come and see with their own eyes and hear with their own ears. They did just that and the world has never been the same.