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Hello my friends,
YOUTH IS SERVED
"Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your
power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come." (Psalm 71:18,
NIV)
My wife brought her lunch last Saturday and sat down to watch a few minutes of
the U.S. Amateur with me.
As she is not a golfer, her observations don't always match mine.
"That guy," she said, referring to eventual runner-up John Kelly, "looks like
he's wearing a girl's shirt."
I wasn't quite sure what she was talking about. I was watching the ball fly
through the air to see where it would land. Forgive me.
But in-between shots, I got a closer look. And we realized that it was not just
Kelly she was talking about. All these young players looked like they were
wearing "girls' shirts." Which is to say the sleeves were far shorter than in
years past, and even those short sleeves were often hitched up some more.
Then my wife pointed to the screen and said, "Yeah, look at those guys in the
back. All their sleeves go to their elbows."
"Those guys in the back" were six or seven country club types, middle-aged men.
Now I'd seen enough to know what was going on. "Of course those young players
wear shorter sleeves," I told my wife. "It's the style, and besides, they have
guns to show off."
I'm afraid at this point my wife put two and two together: I wear those
elbow-length sleeves.
All of this seems funny in a way, but believe it or not, it is further evidence
of the hand of God on our life--the whole course of it.
God praises children, for their faith is an example to the rest of us.
God upholds youth, strong in physique and eager in expression.
God honors age, for in Him it brings an increase of wisdom.
As we grow older, sure we want that wisdom. But to be fully alive in Christ, we
need to keep walking with childlike faith and acting with youthful strength and
vigor. In this tri-fold combination, our passion is rightly directed and smartly
guided.
--
Jeff Hopper
August 31, 2006
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