Just show up
Golf may be considered a sinful game. It can draw the worst out of you. Every single shot needs to be perfect. However, we are not perfect. There is a sweet spot right in the middle of the ball that needs to be hit. If you miss it, then the other side of you might reveal itself. The side of frustration, mental anguish, lack of enduring patience. These could lead us to sin if we don’t know how to let go. However, on the other hand, golf can be a form of spiritual practice, such as in adoration. For in coming before the Lord in adoration, we become more aware of our own inadequacies and our need to rely on God’s grace.
The first Sunday of June, St. Stephen Church, Nuuanu, held an adoration of the Blessed Sacrament from 5 a.m. to noon in union with the pope in Rome. Other churches decided to hold an hour of adoration; we decided to do more. My task was to expose the Blessed Sacrament the first hour and to lead the people in prayer. The experience of just being in the presence of God is what keeps me going. I don’t think we would have energy to continue the life of service we do unless it is rooted in the service that we have received from Christ himself. I felt a tremendous energy as we gathered together in prayer and adoration. It was an exhausting hour, but it was full of life and love. And so, the energy I received, I would say is the energy of love. We know how much God has loved us. In turn, we love the people entrusted to us, in his church, the people.
What do we do during adoration? Adoration is not so much about doing, as about being who you are. It is about being in the presence of God. We are not there to “do.” God has done everything for us, does everything for us. My recommendation for those who don’t know what to do when they go to prayer, or to spend an hour before the Blessed Sacrament, is to just show up. All you have to do is be there and say “Here I am, Lord. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know how to pray. I don’t know how to worship you. I don’t know how to deal with the problem I am facing.” By being there, you will be shown the way to deal with whatever you face in life. It is not about doing, it is about being there. What good is it if you don’t show up?
Make a commitment. When you are in love with the Lord nothing should stop you from wanting to be there with him. The Lord longs to be with us. Parallel to golfing, when you hit the ball, all the mechanics of how you hit it can turn into a cohesive and rhythmic movement of perfection, leading you to the next level, the next hole. If you truly love the Lord, just show up in adoration and let God’s grace move you into the sweet spot with the Lord.
Father Khanh Pham-Nguyen is a diocesan priest and the pastor of St. Stephen Church in Nuuanu. He has been ordained 16 years and enjoys a good game of golf.
