Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods doesn't need people to point out to him that he has personal problems. Of course he does - he's a human being who battles many of the same temptations that you and I face.

Amidst the tabloid articles, blog posts and gossip, I wonder how many people have stopped to pray for him? Tiger Woods isn't in need of our opinions and our pity, but he is in need of our prayers.

When I hear about the things going on in Tiger Woods' life, it causes deep sorrow. I try to imagine the pain that he has brought to himself and his family, and I cringe at the greater pain that people are inflicting on him by their words.

Nobody knows how God is working in other peoples' lives. Do you think that people who have met you once or twice could even begin to understand the depth of your experience in this world? Do you think that they are in any position to judge your actions or relate to your joys, your sorrows, your passion and your pain? Of course not. But so often we forget to remove the plank from our own eye before we try to remove the splinter from our neighbor's.

Was your immediate reaction when you heard about Tiger Woods one of the following?

- "I always knew he was [insert what you knew]."
- "He had this coming."
- "What is the world coming to?"
- "What's wrong with him?"
- "I never liked him. Now I know why."
- "Aha! I told you so."

If any of these things or any other variation of these things came to mind - and before you vow to never cheer for Tiger Woods again - please take a moment to reflect on your own transgressions. Think about what Tiger Woods needs right now.

It's easy to pray for the people that we love. But it's the people who hurt us and the people who hurt themselves and others who are probably in even more need of our prayers and sacrifices.

Let's instead unite our hearts to the hearts of the people in our lives who are in pain. May we practice compassion and offer words of loving kindness and support.