Seems likes everyone is jumping on the Tiger Woods bashing right now. It’s amazing to me that the very people who idolized him are now very happy to distant themselves from the man. The media is quick to criticize him, and yet every night, on every channel, they have shows that support the very stuff Tiger is being condemned for doing. The sponsors, who have made millions off of Tiger’s image, now want nothing to do with him.
I fully understand why people are so upset, and yet I question why the reaction is so severe. People think they have a right to know, that Tiger owes it to “us” to speak up. Why? He doesn’t owe you and I anything. He’s a golfer. That’s all.
According to the latest reports, Tiger is close to an emotional breakdown. Some of you can’t help but say, “Good, I hope he’s miserable.” I hope you rethink that.
Personally, I’m hoping — and praying — for God to do a work in Tiger’s heart. And in the heart of his wife, Elin. And the in the heart’s of each of the women connected to Tiger. God loves each and everyone of them. No action has separated any of them from the love of God.
People of the Second Chance recently wrote some excellent suggestions on their blog. I thought it would be appropriate to repost their comments here.
As People of the Second Chance, here are a few of my suggestions:
1. You have so many words that you can share in a day. Decide whether they will be about blessing or cursing someone.
2. When someone is caught in a scandal, I visualize two buckets that I can fill. I can add to the “Shame Bucket” or the “Second Chance Bucket.” Sometimes my first/easy/fun/human nature response is to fill the “Shame Bucket” so I have to work harder not to do that.
3. For all you online peeps…write your articles, blogs, tweets, and comments as if the person in crisis (and their family) were reading it. Why? Because they do! And the jokes, snarky comments, sloppy facts and flippant remarks hurt people. Instead, devote your computer keyboard to the restoration of people.
4. Refuse to participate in the gossip session around the water cooler. Or better yet, jump in and turn the conversation towards grace and second chances. Btw, just plan on being called a “buzz kill” and not invited back to any more social functions.
5. Realize we are either part of the judgment problem or the grace solution. But we can’t be both. So choose wisely.
Any thoughts?
