Since my arrival to California I have planted and watered seeds of the gospel of Christ everywhere—well, almost everywhere. Yesterday served as the first time I took my bag of seeds on a golf course…

A few Sundays ago, while driving out of the RV park to grab a bite to eat, after noticing a group of big country-fed white men sitting outside of a trailer eating and watching a football game I thought, I wonder if they’ll mind if I join them? After making a u-turn and pulling up to the trailer, I rolled my window down and asked, “You guys have room for one more?”

“Sure buddy, go park your truck and come on over!” they replied.

I parked my truck and grabbed a new DVD I had just purchased that I thought they would enjoy, and made the short trek to their trailer. As I introduced myself to Todd, Jimmy, “Tiny” and the other three fellas, I handed Todd’s wife the DVD…I felt quite at home. It’s hard for me to meet strangers…

“Help yourself to some food—we got chips and dip, brats, steamed cabbage—eat up!” said Todd, the owner of the trailer.

As I enjoyed the good company, food and game I felt a prompting to let them know that I used to play professional football—and that I actually had a cousin playing in the very game that we were all watching.

“Well, how cool is that! You know, you’re the first one I’ve ever met…I mean I’ve never met a pro ball player,” the one they called “Tiny” kindly remarked—there was nothing at all tiny about Tiny.

“You need to text your cousin and tell his team to get it together,” Tood joked.

After taking pictures with five out of six of them, and a few of them posting the photos to their facebook accounts, we enjoyed more laughs and the remainder of the game. We actually joked about working out together, and how we might have a bit of an issue if the police saw six big country fed white guys, running with one black guy down the street .

Interesting how easy it is to meet people if we are willing to get out of our own comfort zone…

Since the day we met, the fellas and I had talked about going golfing together, and yesterday Todd and I decided to go. As we hacked our way through nine holes, we enjoyed the beautiful day and each others company. We laughed at the slow play of the group of men two groups ahead of us, which eventually prompted the two gentlemen directly ahead of us to invite us to join them for the last few wholes.

During our time on the course, I was so in awe of the picturesque surroundings—snow capped mountains and deep green trees—that I almost forgot about my bag full of seeds. So being prompted, I asked my new friend, “So what’s God doing in your life?”

“Well, taking care of me and my family,” he replied.

“Wait, do you believe?” I asked.

“Yeah, I believe…I may not go to church like I ought to, but I believe.

Then moments later, he opened up about his son.

“He’s a good kid, but he just makes some pretty dumb choices…he was in jail for a year and he’s into taking pills…I don’t know what it is with these kids today and these pills,” he commented.

“Well I’ll be sure to say a prayer for him,” I responded.

“Okay thanks,” he replied.

Then, after watching him light up a cigarette, I gently asked, “So how long have you been smoking?”

Immediately convicted, he responded, “Oh, for a while…I stopped for three months…and my wife wants me to quit.”

“Well, how much more open do you think your son would be to hear what you have to say, if you would stop smoking? Because now I’m sure what you’re saying is going in one ear and out of the other because he sees your addiction—it’s just an observation,” I remarked.

“Yeah…so you’re saying I’m tellin’ him not to do it, but I’m doin’ it…I never thought of it that way…but it makes sense,” he replied.

Shortly after our conversation, we finished up our round of golf and parted ways.

Who knew that brats and a football game would lead to a round of golf—which, ultimately, would lead to seeds being planted and watered.

If we are willing, God will use us…