It Sounds Like a Joke

You never know who you are going to meet on the first tee.

At least that is true when you play at public courses and you show up by yourself. Some people don’t like having to play with strangers; I think it’s a great way to meet all kinds of people, like the guy I met last Friday.

The temperature was in the low 40’s, the sky was gray, dampness hung in the air and it was windy. It was a perfect day for golf!

I went into the pro shop and paid my fee. The lady behind the counter asked if I minded being paired with another single player who was only going to play nine holes. “No problem,” I said.

I made my way to the first tee and there he was. He was about my age, shorter, dressed warmly for the elements. He introduced himself and eagerly offered his hand. “My name is Majik,” he said with a Middle Eastern accent. “I’m Peter,” I said. The next words out of his mouth before we had even hit one shot were, “Peter, what do you do for a profession?”

It is a common question, especially for men. I always get a little lump in my throat because I find that when I disclose my profession it changes all the relational dynamics. Clergy people creep some people out!

“I am a pastor of a church,” I told Majik. Without hesitation, he said, “I am not a Catholic. I am a Muslim, but I am not a very good Muslim.”

“I am not Catholic, either,” I said, “I am a Protestant. And I am not a very good protestant either.”

So off we went, chasing our balls down the fairway. Our conversation covered lots of ground. Some of it was about golf. He doesn’t play very much and I was able to give him a few pointers. But the rest of it was a meandering conversation covering a vast array of topics from religion, to education, to The Hunger Games.

He is a doctor with who specializes in arthritis and has a practice in the Southern suburbs. He and his wife immigrated to the U.S. from Iran in the 1970s. He is an American citizen now and very proud of it.

He peppered me with questions about religion. He was genuinely curious. I was trying to explain to him about being Protestant, and denominations, and our denomination in particular. The more we talked the more I realized how crazy it all sounded, and how difficult it must be to grasp. One faith, Christianity, divided up into hundreds of groups from Catholic, to Orthodox, to Protestant and the hundreds of denominations.

I felt a little sheepish. Not because I was embarrassed about my faith, but because of how church history has unfolded and how we continue to divide ourselves over mostly inconsequential matters. I mean, let’s be honest, try to make sense out of why a small group of immigrants from the Netherlands need two, (or more) denominations. Try to explain to someone who knows little about Christianity, why there is a Reformed Church in America and a Christian Reformed Church.

Majik was curious and gracious. I am not sure he really understood all the nuances we have created within Christianity. I am not sure I really understand them all myself. The more I tried to explain, the more it sounded absurd. We have made a mess of what should be simple and easy.

SIMPLE VERSION:

“We are sinners, but God loves us anyway. He loves us so much he saved us from ourselves by sacrificing His Son on the cross      on our behalf that we might be one with Him through Jesus, who defeated death through His resurrection. Because He died, we can be one with God now and forever!”

 When we finished playing nine holes, Majik said, “Mind if I continue to play with you on the back nine. I am enjoying myself!”

We finished 18 holes, a Christian pastor and a Muslim doctor, who met on the first tee. (It sounds like the beginning of a joke.)

As we departed Majik said, “I really enjoyed playing with you today. But I enjoyed your company and our conversation more. You are a nice man! Where is your church again?”

I told Majik where our church was located and invited him to stop in some Sunday. “I might do that,” he said. “I told you I wasn’t a very good Muslim.”

You never know who you are going to meet on the first tee.