I can’t help feeling amused that this world that is pointing fingers at him is the same world that does not celebrate fidelity and monogamy. Tiger Woods is not an exception. He is just someone who was caught under the glare of the spotlight and has been proclaimed guilty for something that is the recurring theme of so many soap-operas and films. Infact, it is the truth about so many other celebrities’ lives. Why look too far, there are so many ‘Married-But-Available’ men and women around all over the place.
I feel sad for him because he has realized his mistakes, hopefully learnt from this lesson and now wants a chance to make it up to his wife. He wants to save his marriage and his family. There is nothing dishonorable in what he wants. I fear that the world, the media and all the sneering voices who are busy making a fast buck at throwing muck at him and digging more dirt on him will not give him the chance or the space he needs to work out things in his life. He doesn’t stand a chance if we don’t leave him alone…. He and his family need space and time, without the glare of cameras and screaming headlines so that they can let these broken relationships start healing again.
While thinking about Tiger’s predicament and the current prevalent culture in which having numerous affairs doesn’t raise eyebrows at all… I remembered there was an incident in which an adulterous woman was caught in the act and brought before Jesus. They asked him, ‘Master, what should we do about her?’ The law of that time required that such women be stoned to death. They stood there testing Jesus, ready with stones to throw at this woman… waiting to see her blood flow till she was dead.
Jesus paused for a while, scribbling in the sand. The men who brought her along became restless seeking his answer. Jesus was still scribbling on the sand when he told them, ‘Let the person who has not sinned at all throw the first stone.’ I can imagine how stunned each of them would have been… their expressions mirroring their dilemma as their conscience reminded them that they were equally bad sinners… One by one, stung by the voice of their conscience they dropped their stones and left.
Jesus then asked this woman where her tormentors were. She said they had gone. Then inspite of being the only man who was actually qualified to throw the first stone because he was sinless himself, he said, ‘I don’t condemn you either. Go, and sin no more.’
I often marvel at this wonderful lesson of corrective love. I am sure this woman was so overwhelmed with this silent acceptance and love she felt coming from Jesus. She was expecting to be rejected, condemned and torn apart but instead she was loved in a wholesome way that healed her heart within and gave her the strength to give up her past, her sinful ways and become a new person altogether. The results are obvious she became one of the closest followers of Jesus. Down the years there have been numerous testimonies of people who were addicted to self-destructive traits and habits but were redeemed by this same saving love of Jesus.
I wonder… Are we up to the challenge? Can we dare to embrace this fallen and struggling Tiger Woods and give him the chance to begin his life again? If we do, we will be able to see a brand new hero stand up… one who has risen from the ashes. Doesn’t our time and culture need a hero like this? Yes, we need a hero who has made mistakes, learnt from it and saved his marriage, his family and won our respect back again. Perhaps all those who struggle with failed and broken marriages will see Tiger Woods and say, ‘If he could save his family, then we can too’.
I would say, ‘Tiger Woods, don’t lose hope. You are on the right track. Go, win this battle and win your family back. We stand with you!’
Folks, I hope you do too.
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