I live near the Cain Center Park. We love to go to walks there. My dogs love to romp and play and run. Their electronic leashes keep them close but free. They have a special tree they like to climb in anticipation of the treat that I will give them. I’m not sure who has who trained.
In the park is a disk golf course. It has tee boxes like golf. It has holes like golf. It has fairways like golf, but it is played with frisbee disks. When we go for walks we almost always meet people playing the game. Some of them are friends and we like bumping into each other and saying hello.
When I was in college I played a lot of the game. It was before baskets and tee boxes. We played from sidewalks to landmarks and we played a version where you had just one disk and you had to run through the whole 18 holes. It was so much fun. Part of that young kid is still in me and I’m rooting for the people that play on the course.
One of the leaders of the local group that organize games is a friend. He came to me to see if I could help restore the course to its former glory. The holes were designed at the beginning of disk golf courses and are no longer tournament qualified and the tee boxes are too small. While we once could host competitions here, that is no longer true. In addition, John Hauk the #1 disk golf designer in the world designed this course. It is one of the two or three oldest courses in Texas that he designed and is a rich treasure. I told my friend I would love to help. We need about $1000 per hole and lots of volunteer work to make the change, but it seemed doable.
Two weeks ago, I made presentation to the City Council to see if they would approve the plan and help us with the project. Lots of business jumped at the chance to help and we were on a roll and then everything came to a screeching halt. I don’t know when we will get back to the project. I don’t know if businesses will have even a few extra dollars to invest in a project like this.
Lots of plans have had to change. Lots of things will be different for a while. I already know people whose jobs have paused and their income has suddenly dropped. I know people who were looking for work and now that looks like a fantasy. I wish I knew the answers of what is to come, but we are all trying to hold the future really gently right now.
I’m praying that the miracle happens, that everything is restored quickly, but I’m realistic to know that that is not always the way it happens.
The day after the City Council meeting my Dad was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer. He has been in the hospital for nearly a week and we are not allowed to go see him. We are praying for his recovery, but the doctors have been realistic, that short of a miracle he has months to live. Lots of things can feel urgent, but right now spend your energy on what is important. One of my favorite quotes is rolling around in my head,
“I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year, “‘Give me a light that I might go out into the darkness,’ and he said to me, ‘Go into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God, for that will be for you better than a light, and safer than a known way.’””
I sure need God’s hand right now,
Kyle