Friday, October 14, 2005

Englewood Park; Rocky Mount, NC

Since Fall Break hit campus, I decided to take a day and hit a course a little farther out that I haven't played before. I had a little trouble finding it, and there were some kids playing tag by the 18th Hole (cleared by the time I got there).

The course was sort of a disappointment. The front nine was very tight without any real fairways. By short, I mean around 200 feet. Very reachable, but only if you snake through trees. I threw a couple of lazy approaches for bogeys, including a frustrating one on the 371 foot 17th after I had thrown a good tee shot.

The one upside was that after the bogey on 17, I birdied 18 to go under par. Nice shot under a certain type of pressure.

Englewood Park:
2-3-2 4-3-3 2-4-2 OUT (25)
4-3-3 3-3-3 3-4-2 IN (28) 53

Wednesday, October 05, 2005

Rollercoaster Rounds Part II

So Monday I went to Kentwood, first time in a long time, and I figured I would be a little rusty. Indeed, I was, shooting an even par, 54 on my first round. I played a second round, and I was -1 after 8 holes. I then birdied number nine and shot -4 on the back nine for a course low (for me) 48.

So, what's up with that? Like Cornwallis last month, Kentwood gave me two round with a half dozen strokes difference. Had to get warmed up? Long layoff from the course? Interesting to see this happen more than once.

Saturday, October 01, 2005

Annals of a Quiet Neighborhood--Conclusion

Finally finished this one today.

It is less plot driven than some of the other novels, but the characters are memorable and the insights moving. Towards the end, I found myself with the familiar, lingering sadness that comes from drawing to the end of a long and leisurely time spent among dear people.

A repeated theme at the end is that of class consciousness, and it is enlightening to see a character come to terms with how deeply rooted prejudice can be, even in the best of us.


I believe I've allus been the better for any trouble as ever I had to go through with. I couldn't quite say the same for every bit of good luck I had.

So says Rogers, a character in the book. It is a powerful thought, typical of MacDonald's work. If one can come to a place of trust in God, all things work for the good.

Perhaps the best word, saved for last, should come from MacDonald's pen, spoken by the narrator to Tom Weir:

If we only act as God would have us, other considerations may look after themselves--or rather, He will look after them. The world will never be right till the mind of God is the measure of things, and the will of God is the law of things. In the kingdom of Heaven nothing else is acknowledged. And till that kingdom come, the mind and will of God must, with those that look for that kingdom, over-ride every other way of thinking, feeling, and judging" (587).


Perhaps one way of learning how to recognize and acknowledge those judgments is through the contemplation of writings such as this one.