Bonkers Illumination Golf

Yesterday, with Grandson-Luca, we enjoyed ‘Bonkers Illumination Golf’:

‘This isn’t crazy golf, this is bonkers golf…it’s a fresh and unique blend of family-friendly fun… Bonkers is set to transform your leisure time into an extraordinary adventure… Enjoy indoor golf… with each hole beautifully illuminated for a captivating experience…’

It was certainly fun; I think I missed out on the ‘transformed leisure time’, ‘extraordinary adventure’ and ‘captivating experience’.

I did wonder how a simple game like golf could become so complicated.

I’ve just read ‘Till We Have Faces’, C.S. Lewis’ last novel. I’ve always enjoyed C.S. Lewis’ Narnia stories… ‘Screwtape Letters’ have entertained and challenged… My favourite’s been ‘The Great Divorce’.

‘Till We Have Faces’ retells the ancient Greek myth of Cupid and Psyche, through the life of Psyche’s sister, Orual, the monarch of an ancient kingdom. Throughout the book she details her complaints against the gods, concluding:

‘The gods will neither… go away and leave us to live our own short days to ourselves, nor will they show themselves openly and tell us what they would have us do.’

She describes the gods’ dealings with us as ‘cat-and-mouse play, blindman’s buff and mere jugglery,’ concluding her accusations. ‘Let them answer my charge if they can… they have no answer.’

I’ve always enjoyed Lewis’ pictures and metaphors – simple yet profound, comfortable yet challenging. Here I felt like the bonkers golf – the simple is over-complicated.

Then, in a final section, Orual reflects on her life, the lessons she’s learnt, her successes and weaknesses, her joys and sadnesses. I identified with her – an old person musing. Through that process she changes, concluding:

‘I ended my first book with the words ‘No answer’ I know now Lord why you utter no answer. You are yourself the answer. Before your face questions die away…’

I still like the simple, but the simple can become too familiar, too comfortable. It’s only when I challenge myself with what appears complicated that I’m ‘transformed’ with the ‘extraordinary adventure’, and the ‘captivating experience’.