Skip to main content

He's Back

Well, I found myself caught up again in watching golf. This time it was the famous green jacketed Masters Tournament. It proved to be four days of great shots, amazing saves, and perfect putts. I was pleased that my buddy Phil Mickelson came out the winner. His game especially over the past two days was dazzling, and even seemed to catch him by surprise. But I must admit, my eyes welled with tears as he embraced his wife and kids after his victory. It was wonderful to see his wife there at his side, as she has been very ill with breast cancer. Of all the golfers chasing this win, it seemed most fitting that Phil should come out the victor. . .

And Tiger seemed like Tiger, still able to make such unbelievable shots. I would easily find myself caught up in his game and cheering him on, but then my mind would recall all that has been revealed about this number one golf player over these past five months. True, when I think of how he lived his life, I am completely repulsed. I gave up wearing my Tiger hats when I golfed, as I wanted no identification with him. But his poster still hangs in my garage over my washing machine and dryer. I don't know why I haven't yanked it down in all of this ruckus. I guess I tell myself that I haven't been able to find another golf poster that I have liked, but maybe now I won't take it down at all. Tiger will always be able to play golf and be competitive, but will he be able to be a faithful father and husband? Yes, I am sure that it was difficult to admit your sins before the media and world, lift up your head and return to what you know you can always do. It's certainly more challenging to do what perhaps you have never done before, be truthful, be honest, be faithful . . .

But he's back, and for now I think I'll keep his poster up. When I pull into my garage I have to look at that "perfect swing" before me. It's a reminder to pray for even him, that all of us are just forgiven and apart from God's grace, we would fall as far. The only difference between my sins and his are that his have been broadcasted worldwide. Tiger has embraced his Buddhist background to help in giving him a focus, yet it will never save his soul. Salvation still awaits him and for that I pray he'll find . . .

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

But . . .

  I had to pause for a moment, as I began reading the text this early morning.  But they, our fathers, acted arrogantly:  they became stubborn and would not listen to Thy commandments."  (Nehemiah 9:18).    How often do I find myself verbalizing "but? what about? what then? what if? really?" All the phrases that feed doubt and angst into my life are found in that one conjunction.  Memory stands as the faithful argument against it, but when faced with future days all seems easily forgotten.  This verse comes to a people who had returned to their homeland after being ravaged and exiled by foreign powers.  Nehemiah is reminding them of who they are, and especially of their one and only God who has forever been faithful to them despite  their faithlessness and wrongdoing.  He reminds them how God is a God of forgiveness, slow to anger, longsuffering, overflowing with lovingkindness, never forsaking them even when He was totally forgott...

Summer Breeze

  Gypsy Rose immediately prances to the back door as she hears her name.  We are ready for our morning walk, which has started later than usual, since I have some of these summer days off.  But it is still early enough to catch the morning breeze.  Walking south, I am refreshed by feeling the gentle wind all around me, it's a cool wrap in contrast to the summer sun.  But it all seems to disappear as I turn the corner and head west, my summer breeze is gone.  I am at a loss for it even as I continue north and east.  It's only as I begin the southern sidewalks back home that I am met with the blissful breeze.  I realize that though I wasn't feeling it for most of my steps, it was there all along, I just had to turn the right direction to get relief . . .  Sometimes, that is how my relationship with God seems.  Yes, I know He is ever near and is with me, but I don't feel that fact.  Sometimes my prayers seem to be in a vacuum, and I'm ...

Brief Moments of Grace

  "But now for a brief moment grace has been shown from the Lord our God, to leave us an escaped remnant and to give us a peg in His holy place,  that our God may enlighten our eyes and grant us a  little reviving in our bondage." (Ezra 9:8)   Summer welcomes me today with a cloudy cool morning and a subtle fresh breeze.  The day is probably teasing me with moderate temperatures before it will launch into more robust sunlight and heat.  The scorching temperatures have given an abundance of tomatoes, bush beans and yellow squash in my garden, while tormenting the kale, cilantro, spinach and herbs.  My refreshment is found swimming laps in the pool and teaching or rather reminding Gypsy Rose to stay in her lane while we swim together.  Days seem to run together, slip away too fast, as I often feel locked in a routine of sleep, work, cook, repeat. I know that I need to pause and reflect, because even in that daily ritual are God's brief moments of gr...