Oh Tiger

First we were alarmed. “Tiger Woods has been involved in a serious car accident near his home in Florida,” the breathless TV announcer said. We were told he was in critical condition. We were told his wife courageously pulled him from the crumpled wreckage of his Cadillac Escalade. Would he survive? Would he be crippled or maimed? Would one of the greatest golfers of all time have his career cut short?

Then we were confused. The anchor, with the appropriate amount of concern in his voice, told us, “Police now confirm that Tiger Woods crashed into a fire hydrant coming out of his driveway before hitting a tree in his neighbor’s front yard.” Wait a minute. He ran into his neighbor’s tree? How far was he from his driveway? How fast could he have been going? The airbags didn’t deploy?

Then we got suspicious. “Police now tell us that Tiger Woods’ wife, Elin, used a 9-iron to break out the rear window of his Escalade to pull Tiger out of the vehicle.” Let me get this straight…his wife used a golf club to break out the rear window of an enormous SUV to pull a nearly 200 pound man out of the front seat?

Then TMZ.com got involved and the whole internet and cable TV universe was turned upside down.

Why are we so interested in Tiger Woods and his marriage problems? I don’t know. Maybe, like watching an episode of the Jerry Springer show, seeing other peoples screwed up lives makes us feel better about our own. Maybe, as in the case of the governor of South Carolina, we love seeing the mighty knocked down a peg or two. Or maybe it’s because when we see things like this a part of us realizes that no matter how much money, power or fame we amass…it’s still not enough.

Tom Brady, the quarterback of the New England Patriots, told Steve Croft of the TV show 60 Minutes a few years back, “Why do I have 3 Super Bowl rings and still think there’s something greater out there for me…I reached my goal, my dream, my life…I think, God, it’s got to be more than this. I mean, this…can’t be what it’s all cracked up to be.” (11/3/05) This from a guy who is living the life most of us want to live! He’s handsome, rich, famous, a great athlete and has the most beautiful women in the world falling at his feet. And yet, it’s still not enough.

Tiger Woods is the greatest golfer in the world. He may be the greatest of all time. Forbes magazine reported back in October that Tiger Woods was the first athlete in the world to be worth one billion dollars. He’s got a beautiful wife, two beautiful children, a hall of fame career, more money than he could ever spend and yet…it’s still not enough.

This is not a new story, you know. In fact it’s as old as time itself. Back in the Garden of Eden God gave Adam and Eve everything and told them to rule over it (Gen. 1:27-31). But it wasn’t enough. They had God. They had each other. They had dominion over every beast and every bird. And they could eat from any plant or tree in the garden…except one. The rest is history.

Before we clutter up the entire countryside with storage buildings to hold all that other stuff we thought would satisfy us maybe we need to step away from the problem just a bit and gain a little perspective. God told Jeremiah that he’s created us to swim in rivers of living water. But we’d rather dig our own wells. And we keep coming up empty, don’t we. (Jer. 2:13) When will we realize that we can never accumulate enough money or fame or awards or women to satisfy our empty hearts? It’s killing us but maybe if we dig just a bit deeper…

Listen, before you plunge that shovel deeper into that never-ending pit of mud consider this, Jesus said, “Come to me all who are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28) Isn’t that what you’re looking for?