Second Chances

Millions of people were glued to their televisions on Sunday watching what can be considered one of the greatest “comebacks” in sports history. (Personally, I was busy helping package 10,000 meals for Rise Against Hunger with the Rotaract Club of Appalachian State University, but I would have like to have watched The Masters live.)

The story is one you either love or hate. Let me tell you why I love it. Tiger Woods’ fall from grace and popularity was easily one any of us could have experienced. Except his was more public. When he was making headlines for one scandal after another, we (the collective “we”) pointed fingers and blamed him for his transgressions. What we (again, the collective “we”) failed to recognize was that he was no different than everyone of us. Human. Prone to mistakes. And available to be forgiven.

I recognize many of my friends will disagree with this, but I was happy to watch Tiger Woods’ celebration of another major golf tournament because I was reminded that I have a second chance too. Certainly my mistakes and health issues and disappointments haven’t been as prominent in the media as his, yet they exist. I haven’t lost millions in endorsements. I haven’t watched family members turn away from me in disgust. I haven’t had friends give up on me when I have made bad choices. But my issues, in my life, have been just as difficult to face and handle, they are just on a smaller scale and more private. Thank goodness.

So my happiness for Tiger Woods is really happiness for forgiveness and second chances. And what better lesson for us all to be reminded of during this Easter season than that?