When I was about fifteen, I used to play a fair amount of golf. I could play a little which meant that I hit enough bad shots to really frustrate me. One time I threw my driver off the tee-box and wrapped it around a tree. I hid that club from my dad for awhile, but you can't tee-off forever with a three-wood. I had control over my temper when I needed it but it still bubbled up when the frustration arrived. Then one afternoon I got paired with a local minister who was out for a Sunday afternoon nine. Me, hauling my canvas bad and him, pulling his pull-cart. We played (well or poorly I can't remember) and had a very pleasant time of it. Two things happened here: One: that this man was very willing to play a round with a boy impressed me very much. It made me want to live UP to this indication. Two: 2 days later, I got a letter from this man congratulating me and complimenting me on my even temperment displayed while engaged in such a challenging game (I must not have played that well). Of course, I smiled broadly inside and out and found it within myself to live up to that standard thereafter. Did you ever have such a watershed experience growing up?
