How Many Dimples Are on a Golf Ball?

Dear Friends,
As a golfer, I was interested in learning how many dimples are on a regulation golf ball.
I discovered, “You can get between 300 and 500 dimples on quality golf balls. However, for regulation golf balls, 336 dimples is a common number.” (wetalkaboutgolf.com)
Next question: How many commandments are there? Two? Ten? Six-hundred thirteen?

Jewish tradition holds that there are 613 commandments (Mitavot) in the Torah. The most widely accepted listing was compiled by the Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon, one of the greatest medieval Jewish scholars. Better known to the secular world as Maimonides. You can see one compilation at http://www.jewfaq.org/613.htm.

Christians are more familiar with the Ten Commandments as found in Exodus 20.
“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
You shall have no other gods before me.
“You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or
on the earth beneath or in the waters below …
“You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold
anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your
work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God …
“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD
your God is giving you …
“You shall not murder.
“You shall not commit adultery.
“You shall not steal.
“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or
his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your
neighbor.”

In Matthew 22:36-40, Jesus summarized the law in two commandments. “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

In the seventh Chapter of Matthew, Jesus focused on the commandment commonly called “The Golden Rule.”

The Golden Rule: “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.” Matthew 7:12 (NLT)

The crowd listening to Jesus must have breathed a sigh of relief. Instead of worrying about 613 rules, Jesus was offering them what golfers would call a “swing reminder.” If you just do this, you will succeed. The mood of the crowd probably changed when Jesus immediately transitioned to his discourse on “The Narrow Gate.”

The Narrow Gate
“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.” Matthew 7:13-14 (NLT)

Many in the crowd must have wondered, “who are the few?” If the gateway to life depended on knowing and following the rules — whether it was 613 Mitovat or just living the Golden Rule — who could ever find salvation?”

The answer was, “No one could maneuver the very narrow and difficult road on their own. The “few” Jesus spoke of were those who chose the route through the narrow gate.”
Jesus said, “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.” John 10:9 (NIV)

Recently a friend was watching as I hit wayward golf shots one after another. “What are you focusing on?” He asked.

“I always try to keep my eye on the ball,” I responded.

“Pick a dimple on the back of the ball — You need a sharper focal point,” he advised.

We also need to sharpen our focus when it comes to our spiritual life. Rather than keeping score based on the good things we have done or the bad things we have avoided doing, we need to focus on finding the narrow gate — Jesus.

Knowing the number of dimples on a golf ball won’t make me a better golfer, any more than knowing the commandments will make me a better Christian. The ultimate prize for a golfer is a “hole in one;” the prize for a seeker is to find the Holy One.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8 (NASB)

Blessings,
Your Friends in Christ