Public Apology

Tiger Woods got caught. His private life did not match the public image that his sponsors were paying him millions to project to the world. Since last Thanksgiving, and the public outing of his infidelity, the media, fans, and a lot of curious people have waited to hear from Tiger. At last, Tiger finally appeared to the world last week and gave his “public apology.” As I watched and listened to the commentary several things came to mind.

First, Tiger didn’t need to apologize to me. I still think Tiger is a great golfer. I enjoy watching him hit a golf ball. I never once looked to Tiger as a model to build my marriage and values. Certainly, an apology to his wife was in store. Seeking forgiveness from God was necessary. Adultery is a sin that is prevalent in our culture. It is wrong. But, he didn’t owe me anything. The media seems to love drama and they created a lot of drama around a golfer.

Second, there was a big debate around the question of whether Tiger was sincere or not. Does he really feel sorry for his behavior? I don’t think you can answer that question after one 13 minute speech probably written by a paid professional to try and keep the endorsement money coming. Repentance is only sincere when you go in a different direction. If Tiger’s behavior changes and goes in a different direction then he was sincere. In our culture where it seems like a public figure is apologizing weekly for their “indiscretions,” talk has become cheap. Confession and repentance are more than just writing a script and saying the words “I am sorry.”

Finally, Tiger talked about being centered. And, I really believe that is the most pressing question. What is the center of your life? The answer to that question will determine the direction of your life. Tiger asked the public (especially the sponsors) to “believe in him again.” That kind of thinking is what got Tiger into trouble to begin with. The question is not should we believe in Tiger, the real question is what does Tiger believe in? What is at the center of his life will determine whether his life is significant or just successful. Although many disagree, I believe Brit Hume got it right. He said,

“Tiger Woods will recover as a golfer. Whether he can recover as a person I think is a     very open question, and it’s a tragic situation for him. I think he’s lost his family, it’s not  clear to me if he’ll be able to have a relationship with his children, but the Tiger Woods that emerges once the news value dies out of this scandal — the extent to which he can  recover — seems to me to depend on his faith. He’s said to be a Buddhist; I don’t think  that faith offers the kind of forgiveness and redemption that is offered by the Christian faith. So my message to Tiger would be, ‘Tiger, turn to the Christian faith and you can make a total recovery and be a great example to the world.’”     (Brit Hume)

Turning to Jesus. Now that would be a hole in one.

Advertisement