Where's Payne? Payne's in the Gallery

The following is an excerpt of an allegory from the eulogy delivered by Jim Henry,Sr Pastor, First Baptist Church, Orlando, at Payne Stewart's Memorial Service.

As they approached the gate, Payne noticed that it was a narrow gate, yet over the entrance it said, "Whosoever will, may come." Sure enough, there was a Gatekeeper there. He looked at Payne and said, "Payne, I've been looking for you."

"How long?" Payne asked.

The Gatekeeper responded, "From all eternity."

"You sound like God. Are you God?" Payne asked.

To this the Gatekeeper proclaimed, "I am! My Father and I are one. We designed this place for all who accept our invitation."

"Here I am. I'm ready to play! What's the fee?"

"Payne, its been paid it for you."

"Who paid it?"

"I did."

"What did it cost you?"

"Everything."

"What do you mean, sir?"

"I mean, Payne, it cost me my life. I died for you." With that he held out his hands, and Payne saw the scars of nails where they had been driven into a cross.

Bewildered, Payne asked, "Sir, why did you do that?"

Then the Gatekeeper explained, "Payne, because this is a perfect place, only perfect people can get here. And, Payne, we both know that you are not perfect. You have some moral hooks, slices, and missed putts that we don't need to discuss now. You have an inborn flaw in the swing of your soul, and there's only one way to correct it. I want to be your Life Coach - for the rest of your life. Will you let me?"

"Yes, sir, I will. But what must I do?"

"Only one thing. You've got to trust me. You've got to put faith in me. You trusted your earthly coach to correct your golf flaws. You must trust me to correct your spiritual flaws. I'm the One who can make you perfect by forgiving you. Payne, I love you. Do you invite me into your life?"

Payne thought about it briefly. He, with his trademark knickers, knelt, removed his Tam O'Shanter cap, and said, "Sir, I want to invite you into my life. Will you forgive me of my sins? Please take control of my life. Thank you for dying for me. I want to do what the Master would have me do for the rest of my life."

In an instant Payne stood up and found himself in the warm embrace of the Gatekeeper. After a few moments he caught his breath. It seemed like a heavy load had been lifted from his soul - like the release that is felt after dropping a pressure putt on the 18th to win the Open - except this had a much more enduring effect. Payne found his cap and heard the Gatekeeper say, "Come in, Payne."