“The road to success is usually under construction"
~ Arnold Palmer
It’s graduation season. Tonight, Paul and I will be attending our grand-daughter’s ceremony after having enjoyed her party over the weekend. (Parenthetically, I LOVE being the grand parent and merely showing up and having a few small assigned tasks — this is an awesome season of life!)
During graduation season, I would say the word most popularly used would be congratulations — and the second would be success. We say things like, ‘we wish you every success in whatever path you choose’. That’s a very kind thing to say to graduates, however, it might be more helpful to quote the late professional golfer Arnold Palmer, ‘just know that the road to success is usually under construction!’ That sentiment would get it right out there to plan for a bumpy ride ahead!
The mere mention of Arnold Palmer takes me back to the Sunday afternoons of my childhood. My mom and dad took a day of rest seriously, so after church and a fantastic dinner, they were off duty. They usually napped, but I seem to remember a lot of golf on TV — which I thought was the most boring activity anyone could possibly think up.
Arnold Palmer was exactly my parents' age and, in the 60's, he was just about single-handedly responsible for elevating the appreciation of golf from an elite and entitled audience to a sport for the average American. That was my dad, an average American and somehow he could relate to Arnold because his road, like my dad’s, was usually under-construction.
Reflecting on his career, Palmer wrote, “Perhaps the reason people enjoyed watching me play so much was that they could relate to my predicaments. I was often where they were as I came down the stretch—in the rough, in the trees, or up the creek.”
Isn’t that the truth in life? There is no straight, level, sunny path from the beginning of our journey to the end. In spiritual terms, we might want to change the wording from ‘road to success’ to ‘finishing well’. As Christians, our goal isn’t so much to be successful in life as it is to do what God has assigned us and finish well. We want to hear those words “Well, done, good and faithful servant” (Matt. 25:21). It seems to me that the road to finishing well is also usually under construction.
I love reading biographies and I have read hundreds of them. One common denominator with all the men and women whose lives I’ve admired is that they often found themselves in the rough, in the trees, or up the creek at multiple points. I cannot name one admired person, past or present, whose game of life seemed to drive happily straight down the fairway. And that doesn’t happen for us either!
We probably all hope for the fairway of life, but that’s not our experience. Sometimes, even our most prayed-over decisions can land us in the rough; our long awaited opportunities can seem to bounce off the trees; and some unexpected life events leave us merely hearing kerplunk and seeing the ripples from the waterway.
So, what is one to do? What is the advice to the graduate? What is the advice for our own life? Here are a few morsels from the Bible that might speak to the task of persevering during construction:
Hitting construction in life is an experience common to all: “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." James 1:2-4
Focus on the Lord’s work in your life rather than on your personal skills: “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6
Regardless of what comes your way, put your head down and keep moving forward: “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:58
My road construction? Well, tomorrow I’ll make a quick stop at treatment station 3 of 16 while riding the Train*. Once again, thank you for your prayers that I would make each stop on schedule! Paul and I (Lord willing) will be back at church on June 2nd.
Until then, if you personally happen to be in the rough, in the trees, or up the creek, can I encourage you with those Scriptures above? Maybe there is someone in your life that you need to encourage as well! One thing we have in common as Christians is that we’re all endeavoring to finish well. I would hope that we can help each other do just that.
My love and blessings,
Sue
* If you are new to this blog, you can find the reference to the Train on blog post May 8, 2024.