At Nairn last weekend we spent some time talking about accompaniment.  Being with the young people in our groups, not to entertain them but to be with them on their journey.

These clips from The Legend of Bagger Vance seems to me to show the role of an accompanier.

The first clip is where Bagger (Will Smith) and Hardy are out pacing the course ahead of the match.

In the second clip Junuh (Matt Damon) is struggling.  His new caddie, Bagger Vance, has watched him play the first of four rounds and let him make all the mistakes he can make.  Now Junuh is ready to listen, to hear and to accept Bagger’s advice.  Bagger starts the process of helping Junuh find his swing.

The thing for me about these clips is that Bagger only gives advice when asked.  Advice comes as part of a conversation.  Hardy must enter into the scene and swing the club.  Bagger makes his comment about ‘the field’ but it’s then up to Junuh to respond.  How many times do we give advice to people who don’t need it or don’t want it?  Maybe it is good advice but just not the right time to give it.

Our role as youth workers is a privileged one.  Young people allow us to accompany them.  We need to make sure that we don’t misuse that position and that we are there for the long haul.

This clip comes three rounds later…

We all fail.  We all fall down.  Who are the people who will pick us up?  Is that you?  Do we pick people up when they fall or do we criticise and blame people for not getting it right?

In the end Bagger leaves.  He leaves when Hardy is ready to take his place and when Junuh is ready to go on.  That’s what accompanying people is all about.  Traveling the part of the way we share.

They just are.  Today was a day that most days will be better than.  This could be the benchmark by which other days will be measured.

The thing is that when taken in its component parts it hasn’t been too bad but as a whole… sucks.

I started out in a bad mood.  Woke up after not nearly enough sleep (again) and went into the office.  My supervision was ok but there is a whole thing going round all the people who do my job just now about how we account for time rather than focusing on the quality of work, but that’s a story for another day.

Staff meeting was ok but I had to leave early to go to the dental hospital.  That’s when things started to go pear shaped.

I arrived on time on floor 7.  I waited.  20 minutes later I was seen by a jolly consultant who asked me why my dentist had referred me and then sent me for an x-ray on floor 3.  The sign said ‘15 minute wait until you get your x-ray’.  I waited 30 minutes to get my x-ray then a further 40 minutes on the x-ray film.  The staff had helpfully been saving them up and brought through 5 at one time!  Back to floor 7.  More waiting.  Eventually after 2 hours of waiting punctuated with 4 minutes of actually being seen or x-rayed I told the receptionist I would have to leave.  Children to collect and all that.  Just then the nurse came through and called me.  I explained I had to leave.  ”Just 2 minutes” says the nurse and sure enough, I go through and the consultant tells me that he’s not sure I need a root treatment or that my tooth is perforated and that I need to come back and see his colleague.  Great.

I now know EXACTLY what I knew after seeing my own dentist 2 months ago!!!

To be fair the rest of my day has been ok.  I saw my kids and I’m parked in front of my laptop surfing the web and listening to Celtic play in the Champions League while looking forward to Motherwell’s European adventure tomorrow.

Oh, one final moan.  Ryder Cup.  Come on Sky Sports.  How about Pay-Per-View online like last time?  I don’t want to pay for your overpriced sports package on cable.  I just want to watch Europe beat the Yanks… again.  That will cheer me up.

Today my brother-in-law treated us to a great day watching the Jonnie Walker Championship at the beautiful Gleneagles centenary course.  We spent the morning with Darren Clarke, Justin Rose and Mark Warren and then followed Lee Westwood in the afternoon.

We witnessed some great shots and some of the longest hitting I’ve ever seen from Westwood.

All that and free Jonnie Walker cocktails… what more could you want?

I’ve has a busy weekend and in between preaching at Dunfermline (thanks for the tie!) and visiting parents (thanks for a lovely meal!) I rediscovered some things forgotten.

I watched the Masters Golf. I’m not sure I’ve watched it so much as I did this year for ages. For me the Masters seems to hold more appeal than other golf tournaments (except the Ryder Cup where we get to beat the Yanks - in a sporting and fun fashion of course). Perhaps because it is played at the same course each year. Perhaps because the course is Augusta National, perhaps the most beautiful course in the world. Perhaps it is because it never fails to surprise. Well done to Trevor Immelman on winning and to fellow South African Gary Player on his two rounds under 80! Not bad for a 72 year old!

The second thing rediscovered was a musical treat. I found an old CD.

Hats by The Blue Nile. I bought this album when I was at school I think. It is a beautiful collection of angst, hurt and hope. I love it. Perhaps the perfect album for listening to in the dark. The Blue Nile are playing in their hometown of Glasgow soon. I wonder if we could stretch to the tickets. They almost NEVER play and have only produced a handful of albums in 20 years.