...role model?

As you may know, this Thursday the the 74th Masters Golf Tournament gets underway at Augusta National. The buzz in the golf world is that Tiger Woods will make his return to the game, the game he left because of his actions off the course. You may have watched as he tearfully apologized to his family, friends, fans and his sponsors.

The hype was big as it usually is with professional athletes, everyone had an opinion, everyone had a diagnosis, everyone took their opportunity to judge Tiger Woods. I guess it feels good to look at someone else, especially someone who is famous and point out their flaws; as if to say because you are famous you must be perfect and now you owe me something for your actions. (this may not have been your experience; but this is what i noticed happening on every news network, every sports channel, etc...)

When I watched the first news conference live, when Tiger first spoke to the media after his accident and personal problems were first revealed. I was amazed at the commentary after that news conference; actually i think i was more frustrated than amazed. Here we have Tiger Woods: amazing athlete, perfect swing, fan favorite, supermodel wife...oh and human, father, husband, son...did I say human? Here is the point; Tiger Woods doesn't owe me anything: not an apology; not an excuse; he doesn't even owe me an explanation. I am a huge Tiger Woods fan, and to tell you the truth I am happy that he looks to his faith to get centered again, but I really wish he had been impacted by a Christian during this time. And maybe he was, but my suspicion is that most Christians were looking for the apology, they were mad, they were disappointed.

I find it difficult to understand how an individual can place so much trust in another person that they don't know personally. To look at Tiger Woods as their role model, that they will look to Tiger to figure out how to live their lives. Now if this were the case, and I assume it was for many Americans, I can understand why they may be hurt, why they may want an apology. But that doesn't mean Tiger owes them anything...

The point...Tiger Woods is human, just like me. He may be the greatest athlete to ever play the game of golf. But in the end, when the cameras are gone, when golf is no more...Tiger will die. He is not a god, he will not live forever, he is not supernatural, he is not perfect, he does not grant 3 wishes. Professional Athletes and those who are famous might sometimes become idols (not American Idols) for people, I mean idols that are looked to as gods. As if faith and trust are placed on those individuals. And when this happens we will be let down, we will be hurt, we will expect an apology 99% of the time.

Imagine if you told your wife or your mom you would be home at 6 and you got home at 11. You didn't call and you didn't check in. Imagine waking up for work or school and your neighbors, friends and individuals from your community were standing in your yard with cameras and video and they wanted to know why you didn't call your wife or your mom, why you didn't come home at 6. They follow your wife or your mom around and they track your kids or your friends down at school to find out why you didn't come home at 6. Your response, probably similar to mine, its none of your business. Now why is Tiger's business mine? I understand why his sponsors know his business...he represents them. But Tiger does not represent me, and I hope he doesn't represent you.

At what point do we place faith and trust in something that does not let us down? At what point do we stop pointing fingers? At what point do we actually have compassion? At what point do we allow forgiveness? What was you reaction to Tiger? Where do you place your faith and trust? Jesus Christ. This man will not let you down, his forgiveness is now and eternal.

(What Tiger did was wrong, but I don't think its my job to tell him he was wrong, I don't think its his responsibility to apologize to me, and forgiveness and life eternal were won for Tiger Woods too. Now...will he ever know this wonderful life changing truth?)