Things happen for a reason

As the old saying goes, things happen for a reason. That was never so evident as this weekend, when I got to visit with one of my former golfers. He played for me when we lived in middle Tennessee. Our families were very close and we all wanted him to do good and all wanted him to go on to college to further his career as a student athlete. Well, things didn't always come easy for him. He seemed to always come up a little short during the region tournament and just miss going to the state tournament by one or two strokes. He just couldn't get over the hump. Now, everyone in that part of the state knew he was a quality player with unbelievable skill but just couldn't get there. As his senior year came to an end he, you guessed it, barely missed again. After many tears were shed (not by him) he decided to go to college in Nashville. Everyone wanted to know, including myself, if he was going to play golf. He thought on it for over a year and decided not to. Not because he didn't want to but he had other plans. You see, one of the best golfers I ever coached decided to become a Doctor. I can't say I wasn't shocked by I knew he could do it. What he had no chance of, was becoming a doctor while playing golf for a college golf team. I am sure there were doubters that thought he would never finish but they didn't know Jay. He made up his mind and as we said in middle Tennessee "Let the low side drag". He let me know that he had just a little over a year before he gets his degree. He will then be an M.D. and that is where he starts all the internships and residencies, blah blah blah. Heck, I quit listening after he said he was almost a Dr. because I was in awe. How neat is that! Once again the Lord shows me, time and time again, why I coach. Stories like that. Go get em Jay. If the past is a look into the future I feel like he might just be one of the best doctors around. An added bonus... he can always help ole coach out when I find that "honey hole" duck blind. Just kidding! Proud doesn't describe how I feel about his hard work. Don't underestimate our youth because every once in a while they will surprise you.