Who are you caddying?

On the golf course, we are familiar with the guy who follows the golfer and carries the golf bag. This person is called the caddie. Oftentimes, what people do not see is the caddie giving the golfer pertinent information about the course and facilitating advice about how to approach a shot. Instead, the only association with the caddie is him carrying a bag full of heavy equipment.

Have we thought to ask ourselves, “Who are we caddying?” The benefit of a professional caddie is that he is paid for his services and he and the golfer have a symbiotic relationship on the course. On the other hand, we serve as free caddies for people resulting in being the burden carriers for their lives. We allow people to cast their burdens upon us, leave their luggage on our doorsteps, and empty their baggage at our feet in which we are left to pick it up and carry it for them.

The next time you watch golf check out the golfer. Watch how freely he moves and how briskly he walks, and then watch the caddie and notice him hunched or leaning. That’s what happens to us when we carry other people’s burdens. How can we move and produce freely and effectively when our backs are hunched, our hands are full and our steps are staggering?

But what happens when we have to carry our own bags? It affects us the same. We must continue to practice the notion of “release.” We do not see Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Bubba Watson, or Ricky Fowler carrying their bags. They are free to swing.

When we carry burdens, we aren’t free to swing. When we carry burdens, we can’t stand upwards. When we carry burdens, we can’t lift our heads to see the sky; the only view we have is the ground.

Pick people up, don’t pick up their burdens.

 

God Bless