Golf
On the Candler Park Golf Course practice green just above tee-box number 1, grandpa and I are practicing our short game and putting. He lines up every shot meticulously and knocks down only a few more than I can without any preparation at all.
I break the silence with a celebration of how close the ball I just putted came to going in --- despite having my eyes closed!
But grandpa didn't celebrate with me. He didn't even let it slide as one of the childish things young golfers enjoy. He laid into me about how worthless putting is without intentionality and focus. And I think he was teaching me a larger lesson about life.
Self-reflection that leads to purpose, and purpose that leads to positive action is essentially what I cherish and aspire to these days. Grandpa, and others, taught me the importance of 'intention.'
My uncle, who's also a golfer, but a less patient one indeed, refers to grandpa's shot preparation as the kind of intentionality one would give the 18th green of the US Open. And that's funny.
Only a couple years ago did I learn what progressives and radicals meant to live intentionally. But the golfing story makes me think of progressive Christians - Open Door Community and LA Catholic Worker - and D.C. Anarchists intentional living.
Comment here about your awareness of intentions...
2 comments:
i agree with you when you say "intentionality" requires purpose. one has to have a defined purpose to be intentional (though some may not consciously know what their purpose is, it may be an underlying motive).
being intentional also requires prioritization of actions and discipline in those actions.
i have become increasingly aware of myself being intentional in relationships with my friends. this is good that i realize that i am intentional, becuase it demonstrates that I have a clear purpose for myself (and i'm glad to reflect that my intentionality is in line with my purpose). Now, I'm working to prioritize and be disciplined in being intentional.
i think your grandpa may have put so much emphasis on intentionality becasue he knew that one will reap much more through an intentional lifestyle. but even more than that, drawing from your interaction with him it seems he didn't care about the actual sucess or failure of the task, but maybe he saw the importance more on having a real purpose and being true to that purpose no matter the outcome.
Ben, I'm excited to see another layer of your process layed out on the ether for all to see! How do you have time to blog????
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