Take a Swing At Golf: Warming up with Hole 1 365 yd. Par 4

Imagine if you will a brisk spring morning, 7:45 am. The dew has set in, and the fog is rolling out. A crisp, new green has come over the grass.  You pull out your driver, a ball, and a tee. You pick your favorite ball, a Srixon. You do some stretching and take a few practice  swings. Finally, you step up to the ball and take a swing. You hook the ball right into the trees on the left side. LOST! You grab an old, junky ball thinking you will do the same. As you come through on your swing you know that it was a great hit, sending your ball about 200 yards down the course. You mark and wash your old, junky ball now covered in mud and freshly-cut grass. You pull out a 5-iron, take a practice swing, and hit the ball another  125 yards. You walk up to your cart and grab your 56 degree wedge and your putter. You get up to your ball, and realize that it is in the SAND! You hop into the bunker and set up to get your ball out. First time it pops out and onto the green. Now you know to par you need to sink this putt. You measure out the now 30-foot putt. You take your shot. It comes within inches of the hole then veers off course. It rolls another foot. You step up to the putt and knock it in the hole to take the bogie.

You may wonder how this relates to the gospel. I will tell you. Warming up in golf is a lot like having the Spirit with you. A lot of times golfers forgo stretching and practice swings to try and get on the course early. I have found the same problem in preparing for everyday life. We don't prepare our minds for the day ahead. Here are some ways we can better prepare our minds for the day ahead:

1. Slow down. Cut the less important things off your list of things to do to make room for your family and family time together.

2. Study your scriptures. I have found this one work well for me. I always feel the Spirit more abundantly when I take time to study the scriptures.

3. Pray for strength and wisdom. Your Heavenly Father knows you and wants you to succeed but he wants you to ask Him first. 

Take a little more time to go to the driving range before your round of life and try the things mentioned above. Maybe you will start out your round with a birdie.