I had the chance this past weekend to catch up with and play golf with someone I grew up with – Jeff Leonard. We have been friends for over 4 decades. I can’t even begin to count the number of rounds and/or hours we have spent together on the golf course, the arcade, or one another’s home. We don’t get a chance to be together very often because we live states apart – but this past week while in Florida, we were able to get our families together for lunch one day and we played a round of golf together as well. We shared a lot of stories and memories as we spent time together.
Back in the day, as the saying goes, we were fairly even matched on the links – But not anymore. I was witness to a game of golf I am not familiar with – Jeff was a collegiate golf champion and played on the PGA Tour. He now is the Head Pro at Fox Hollow Golf Club in Florida. I was glad we were on the same team and that I didn’t embarrass myself on the course!
During the day on the golf course, I kept wondering- “Would we be friends if we just met or are we just living in the past?”
For me the answer was clear … and it is “yes!” … for a couple of reasons:
1) Our friendship was never just about golf, or euchre, or car chases, or spring break, or any number of things or events we shared together in the past. Granted all those things make for some great stories and points of connection, but there was more . . . which is my main point.
2) We are still friends and will remain because of that which we both have in common – We both love the Lord and are seeking ways to honor Him in our lives. This common ground will always keep us connected and is the bond of our friendship – whether that friendship be 4 decades old or 4 minutes old.
I hope you have a friend like that.
Friends that keep you grounded.
Friends that you keep you connected to who you have been, who you are, and more importantly who you are striving to be.
And if you have a friend like that who also happens still enjoy playing golf with you – even better – just make sure they give more than a few strokes a side or better yet – just play on the same team!
Here’s to the good old days – old friends – and the days yet to come!
Wonderful read. Thanks for the smile! Makes me think of my best friend, who also lives states away. Interesting question you asked yourself, “would we be friends if we just met, today?” For my friend and I, yes. As much as we are different, there is so much that is similar. Probably true with just about everyone.
LikeLike