CHAMPIONS FOCUS

"Keep your eyes straight ahead, ignore all sideshow distractions." (Proverbs 4:25, The Message)

I was in my room in Taub Hall at the University of Houston when the phone rang. My coach, Dave Williams, spoke: "You've been chosen for the Texas Cup Matches."

As one of 12 amateurs, I would play against the best of 12 Texas professionals, my childhood hero, Byron Nelson.

Just to caddy for Byron would've been privilege enough. But to compete against this man who won 11 straight PGA Tour events and 18 events in one year was breath-stopping.

I was awestruck most of the day of the match. To watch this gentleman-statesman of golf play and manage his game for 18 holes remains one of my great experiences in competitive golf.

I've since learned one key to Byron's career. He won eight tournaments in 1944, but wasn't satisfied. "I resolved to make 1945 my best year yet," Byron said at the start of the year. To do so he said, he would "focus better."

Focus better, he did. He got into a zone on March 11 and stayed there for three months, winning EVERY tournament he played in. And seven more before the year ended.

Byron's mental game centered around concentration and composure.

"Concentration," he said, "means paying attention so closely to what you're doing that outside distractions don't bother you…When you sense an interference, either from outside or within, think instead about playing the shot at hand."

What a beautiful parallel for us as followers of the Greatest Instructor of all time.

As Solomon said in the verse above (as paraphrased by Eugene Peterson), we must "ignore the sideshow distractions." Said another way, we must keep our mind on the one thing necessary, paying attention to Him, doing what He would have us do in the matter at hand.

Like Nelson's 1945 year, 2006 holds the potential of the "best year yet." My question is, will I pay close enough attention to Him that distractions don't sidetrack me?

--

Jim Hiskey

January 18, 2006

Copyright 2006 Links Players International

The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.