BISHOP JOSEPH'S POST

Michael asked me if I would put on something that you might not know about me.  I thought that you knew everything about me.  Martha said that there were a few you didn't know.  She thought the question was funny.

It took thinking, but I did decide that you didn't know that I enjoy playing golf.  Do to being a Bishop and a farmer, I don't get to do it very often, but I do enjoy it.  How did I get interested in that?

When I was in my teen years, I use to work for an Englisher that had a large house and yard.  I would mow the lawn, take care of the flowers growing around the outside of the house, plant whatever they wanted planted, etc.  Their house backed up to a golf course and sometimes during my break, I would watch the Englishers play golf.  After working there for a while, I got interested in golf.  The people I worked for did not play golf, which was odd seeing their house backed up to the golf course.  I guess the house had something to do with price and location.

Anyway I was out one Friday with some of my Old Order Mennonite and Englisher friends when one of the Englisher's said he was going to play golf the next day.  When we got alone, I told him I was interested in that.  He said what would my Bishop say.  I said I wasn't going to tell him and anyway there is no Old Order Mennonite law that says you can't.  My friend said before you got out on the course you need lessons.  So he would meet me the next day and started teaching me, which he did.

He wouldn't even let me out on the golf course until I learned some of the strokes.  I borrowed a set of clubs from him and when I could, I practiced in a field not to far from our house.  Finally, the day came when my friend allowed me on the course with him.  I was terrible.  But, so were some of the other people out there.  As I could only go out once in a while because of chores and job, I didn't get there to often, but went when I could with my friend.

My parents were the first to find out that I played golf.  They tried to talk me out of it and I wouldn't listen, so they went to the Bishop.  Now our Bishop believed in enforcing the correct ways of our religious  beliefs as I do being Bishop - but he could find no rule against playing golf.  In fact, he played golf once in a while.  As long as I did my chores, job and did not use all my time and money on golf - a game once in a while wouldn't hurt.  What could my parents say?

Of course, my Father tried to give me more chores to do.  Even though the Bishop okayed it, my Father did not believe it was right.  Said, even Bishop's could be wrong, once in a while.  Still I snuck in a game every now and them.

I tried getting David, Jean's husband, to go with me.  That was before they were married, but David thought it was too much work running around a course chasing a little ball trying to get it in a hole. But over the years, I found some of the members of our meeting house that play.

Now, I have made a real little 9 whole golf course in my back yard.  It's way behind the house near the other end of the field.  Like I said with all my Bishop and farm duties, I don't get to play it very often and even less often to get to a regular golf course.  But once a while I do.  As they wanted to learn, I taught two of my son's how to play.  As it is a rare chance, we really enjoy the time we have together out on a golf course.

Martha said I should tell how I dress when I play golf.  I dress the same as I normaly do.  The only thing different is I have golf shoes on.  Sometimes I carry my clubs when I play - sometimes I rent a golf cart.  Usually I rent the cart if someone is with me.  We split the cart price.  I had a used set of golf clubs for many years until my birthday one year, when Martha gave me a gift certificate for a new set of clubs, which I purchased.  Martha said she would have purchased the clubs, but one set looks like another to her - so she gave me the certificate.

We do not bet or play in any tournaments.  We keep score and whoever wins the game is the winner for that game.

Now that Martha has enjoyed me telling your something you didn't know about me, I told Michael that I think he should ask Martha that for the next such post he wants.

Be With God,
Bishop Joseph

WE WOULD LIKE TO WISH HAPPY VICTORIA DAY TO OUR FRIENDS IN CANADA.

Marilyn