I want to be like Tiger

In order to justify the long hours I spent watching the U.S. Open this weekend, and Monday morning, I want to share a few things I learned. Please note this is not a theology paper but more of a story.

As I watch golf, I see two superstars that are polar opposites. Both are great but very different. Tiger plays confident golf. No matter how bad things seem or how many strokes he is behind the leader, he knows he is going to be around at the finish and there is a good chance he will come back and win. No matter how poorly he is playing, you just have the feeling at any moment he is going to turn it around. He can stink it up for three days but you always know he will still do something amazing. He never doubts himself even if he is playing poorly.

Phil Mickelson is the opposite. He seems to play more on emotion and has great highs and even greater lows. No matter how great he plays, you always feel like the wheels might come off at any moment. He has flashes of brilliance like making the most impossible shot from the rough, but he’ll turn around and miss a four-foot putt. The great shots are great but he always seems to make a huge mistake and it costs him greatly.

So what does that snapshot of golf have to do with spiritual matters? Well, I see myself too much like Phil and I want to be like Tiger. As I am living my life, I want to be the guy that is on the verge of greatness. I want to walk confidently through life because I know who I am and whose I am. As the angels watch my life, I want them thinking, “I know he just messed up, but just wait. I’m telling you, he finishes strong. He will get things back on track.” That is a Tiger lifestyle. Unfortunately, I think I’m more of a Phil guy at this point in my life. As the angels watch my life some moments sound like, “Yeah that was an incredible shot, I can’t believe he just did that. That was nearly impossible but he did it,” while other moments go more like this, “That was a no brainer, how in the world did he miss that putt?” or “He was doing so well, why did he hit that club and bring trouble into play.”

Please understand, this is not about earning salvation. This is more about the way we live. I want to live like the guy who is going to get it right no matter the hurdles along the way not the guy who always seems to ruin a good thing. I want and should have the confidence in my Savior and Lord to keep going no matter what, fueled by His grace and love. I want to live knowing that the bad moments and mistakes are the abnormalities not the norm, instead of the highlights and great shots being the abnormalities.

Does any of this make sense to you or is my brain a bit water logged from the all the rain at Bethpage this weekend? What are your thoughts, feelings? Which lifestyle seems to describe you best? How confidently do you live your life?