It was a typical Vancouver November day with grey skies and
light falling rain on the already soaked greens at the Stanley Park
Pitch and Putt Golf Course. A day when only fools or golf enthusiasts
would dare venture out and there I was, the only person on the course, putting
for a birdie on the second hole. From out of nowhere, climbing over a 5
foot fence, a slight older man appeared
wearing large work boots and carrying a tattered coat. My first reaction was one of dismay that this street person would jump a fence on a golf course to ask for some money…I had made the classic mistake and judged a book by it’s cover.
His first words were “my name is Lloyd and can I join you for a game of golf?” He produced 3 golf clubs from underneath the tattered coat and we walked back to the first hole to start our game. That day turned out to be a special beginning to a friendship as Lloyd and I played golf and exchanged stories in the pouring rain. As we golfed and laughed that day I learned more about Lloyd, that he was a teaching golf professional of Cree heritage and his seven under par that day proved he knew his craft well.
What impressed me most was Lloyd’s zest and joy of life and a positive attitude even though he had few possessions. He basically owned nothing, someone had given him the use of an old car that became transportation and home. He told me that during the winter months he would work in the oil and mining industries that took him around the world. During the summer he would pursue his passion as a golf coach helping a large list of clients scattered around North America.
Lloyd talked about an annual dinner when his golf students would come together to celebrate golf and life. I was sceptical but accepted a recent invitation to attend the Coach and Friends dinner in Victoria, British Columbia, it turned out to be the high point of my year. Some 120 people, from as far away as Florida and Louisiana, attend the event and told stories about Lloyd and how he had touched their lives and helped their golf game.
I realized that this guy is the real deal. His mission is to make people’s lives just a little bit better by wrapping his golf wisdom into lessons of fun and life encouragement. The true measure of a man is not so much what he does but what he gives to others. At the end of the day you know that you have gotten the greatest gift of all and that is one of true friendship.
Lloyd lives a life of true freedom and simplicity without the concerns that most of us have about money and the future. He just has the belief that the Spirit will bring thing together in a good way and that true joy comes in helping others and being grateful. He feels that trying to make and save lots of money often gets in the way of living life. A lot of people talk about living a life they love and Lloyd is actually doing it.
Sometimes we run across a rare tattered book that, in it’s pages, are life lessons of profound significance. That rainy day in November I came across a living book called Lloyd who affected me deeply with his life of freedom, simplicity, gratitude and joy.
