Heavenly Father,

Could you please help me find my golf ball?  I know it is around here somewhere.  I’ve looked everywhere, and it is time to either find the ball, or take a penalty stroke and a drop.  Could you PLEASE help me find the ball?

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

I say about 795 prayers like the one above every summer.  I find that they ‘work’ about half the time.  By ‘work’ I mean that after I say such a prayer, I find the ball.  I have never received an answer to these prayers like, ‘The ball is behind the pine tree on the left’, or, ‘I know where the ball is, but I am not telling you’.

When I do find the ball, I always thank God for helping me find it.  You know, just in case.  And when I don’t find the ball, I never blame God for not helping me.  I just take my stroke, drop a new ball, and play on.

I’m not sure what this means about prayer, God, or myself.  But I still like golf - no matter how many golf balls I go through every summer.