Hello blog on this fine Sunday afternoon. I hope you are well. It's me, your friendly neighborhood blogger. Yes, I am still on my journey to discover -- the who in I am. It's not easy to concentrate today… because our home is filled with the sounds of golf. Tiger this and Tiger that. Even when Tiger's score has a big fat + before it, which generally means that he far from the lead on the leader board… he is still the topic of commentary. He still has a 10-back packed gallery who follow him from green to green. That's what I call massive popularity.
Well, it's true, we all want to see what Tiger Woods is up to. Can he get himself back. Is it his mental game that has gone flooey? Com' on blog, his here-we-go-round golf swing and his tippy tap eagle, birdy putt cannot have suddenly lost the map to that soup can hole in the ground with a flag sticking out of it.
Tiger has these gifts in his pocket. The problem is that he can't find the right pocket to pull out of his funk.
I feel sorry for this guy. Not that I'm condoning his poor behavior. Like he said -- that's between him and his wife. It's none of my business, for sure. But his very public debacle is the culprit for his present stinky game. What else?
My honey is an avid golfer. Avid, I mean. That's the big reason I am hooked on golf myself. I don't mean I play, although I did "play" around with a club and whitey ball on the driving range a bit in the past. No not a player. I am a spectator. I have gotten to know the golfers. I have my favs. I am good at recognizing a good golf swing from a rough-awaiting.
But, as I follow Tiger's story from last Thanksgiving, I wonder. This is the top ranked golfer in the world. His golf game is incredible. Everyone follows him in person and on the greens. Most golfers wish they had even a little bit of his gift. His magic. He has money endorsements that make his life financially secure for generations.
We now know from his own mouth that he felt entitled and he was wrong. I wonder how I would behave with all this fame and fortune in my hand. This gift that few men have. Yes, what indeed would I do with it? How would I behave?
I'd like to think I'd do better with such gifts, but can any of us really know until the moment comes, if it comes. Our own 15 minutes, so to say.
The real morale here… from observing the rise and fall of golf's most public hero is simple. I don't need fame or fortune to follow the right path. (A path that my children can be proud of.)
I know what is right and what is wrong. I know that my behavior, whether good or not-so-good, has consequences. Tiger Woods is a perfect example of "consequences."
No one is perfect, least of all me. I have and will make mistakes. I'll make poor choices, even though I do my best to stay on the side of right. All I ask is that I am forgiven, because in my heart, I don't want to harm others or be bad, whatever the definition of bad might be [in context].
I think my biggest issue is with people who hurt me. Hurt my feelings. Take advantage of me. Treat me with less respect that I deserve. When I feel "it's not fair" -- I remind myself that life is not fair. I get from life, what I give. Most of the time that means I must give more. Maybe that's "turning the other cheek" -- I don't know. But I do know that I want my life filled with peace and joy.
I am sure that Tiger Woods wants the same. He wants forgiveness, because I can see he feels contrite. I am a fan. Who am I to judge? I want only the best for him, and I truly hope people I care about will be as generous and kind to me should the situation arise.
It's Sunday, blog. A good day for deep, serious subjects. But guess what? Monday is right around the corner.