I’ve had this blog idea bouncing around in my skull a few weeks now, but as the saying goes “there’s no better time than the present”; so here we go…
Allow me to start with a few questions –
Have you ever heard a “small, still voice” offer a warning or guidance at any time in your life? What did you do? Did you ignore it or follow its instructions? If you ignored it, did you suffer any consequences? If you listened, what was it you gained?
Bigger, better questions may be “where did this voice originate? and why?”
I ask you these questions because I want to share an experience that occurred in my life when I was 11.
When I was 11 I started caddying at the local county club. The starting rate was $4 per bag + Tip for 18 holes of golf. On a good day I would make $12 – $14; which meant I “looped twice” (two rounds of 18). My goal for the summer was to save up enough money to buy a new Schwinn 10 speed.
At some point during the summer I had saved enough to buy the bike. What an awesome moment it was paying like $150 CASH and then riding the bike home! I was feeling pretty good about myself.
As the dog days of summer approached the days got longer and hotter, but I was still out there every Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and some Sundays lugging around members’ clubs.
I believe it was July 26th; a day like any other. I got to the club about 6:30am so I would be near the top of the list so I could maybe get out twice. I caddied that day for my “usual” member; nothing unusual occurred until the 13th hole.
On that hole, a member of the foursome on the 12th hole had hooked his drive into our fairway. As we walked toward his ball it was decided to let him “play through” before we walked by; so basically we were standing about 10 -15 yards INFRONT AND TO THE LEFT of him.
That’s when I heard the voice. It told me to duck behind my bag for safety. I chose to NOT LISTEN and just stood there as the gentlemen began his swing.
All I can remember in the moments following were hearing a “click” of the club hitting the ball and someone yelling “oh my God, you hit one of the caddies!”
Yes, I had been struck in the head by a golfball!
I was struck above the left eye. The force of the golfball drove my glass frames into my forehead cutting me to the bone. I was taken by ambulance to the emergency room where I was stitched up and admitted.
Later I learned I had suffered a “caromed eyeball”, The force of the ball had actually changed the shape of my eyeball briefly which caused retinal damage. To this day I only have peripheral vision in my left eye; which causes a whole bunch of other problems – especially with my depth perception.
Many many nights I ask myself why I didn’t listen to that voice. I wonder how my path would be different if I had ducked behind the bag. Then I realize that for me to experience the life God had for me, I had to have that experience.
This realization didn’t happen over night, but over many years of nights. It’s how I attempt to approach the many challenges of life. I no longer focus on the “why me?” but think “what lesson/purpose does God have for me?” And ” am I willing to complete this lesson/purpose?”
My advise to you – If and when you hear that “small, still voice”
LISTEN!
Dan’s View 
So true Dan. I’m listening intently!
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