Tiger, Repentance, Grace and Rebuilding Trust

Tiger Woods offered an apology today.  http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/02/19/art.of.apology/index.html?hpt=C1 It was direct, candid, with the owning of behaviors. As his wife pointed out to him, the true apology will be living with integrity over time. Woods speaks of his religious faith, Buddhism, and the principles that he drifted from. Buddhism teaches the denial of external cravings. To his credit, he has been in 45 days of in-patient therapy and will continue in therapy. He stated that the most important things to him are his wife and children. He acknowledged that he needs extensive continued therapy and help. Being a role model means more than just playing great golf. It has to do with character and integrity. Woods acknowledged his need for friends and supporters in his life. He apologized to the families who had held him up as a role model to follow.

He apologized extensively, honestly and asked for the help of the many who believed in him, that they would find it in their heart in time to beileve in him again.

Whether rich, famous or successful, we are all in need of grace. I pray for Tiger that he would find the trnasforming liberating grace of God that provides a transformation by the Spirit that does not rest on human effort and leading a more decent life. Woods used the expression several times, "I have a lot to atone for." The news of the gospel is that Jesus has atoned for us. Our acceptance before the Father is not on getting our lives together and leading a decent moral life. We are accepted, deeply loved and seen in the righteous of Christ because he atoned for our sins. Transformation results from responding to the Spirit and Word in the context of community.