Climbing on the high horse
This whole thing with Tiger Woods kind of makes me feel rotten in the pit of my stomach. Not only because it is possible he cheated on his wife - all the evidence points that way, it is true, but I doubt we will ever be told for certain from his own lips. And do we really need to hear it from him? Since when did it become my business what goes on in his marriage?
I've heard (and given) the argument before - "He is a public figure." Yes, he is. And a public hero, of sorts, a black man that is successful across all the boundaries of society, one of the few public figures to break through that ever-shifting boundary. He's always been a good guy, a family man, a devoted son. All good things, in the public eye.
I am fascinated to see how quickly magazines, TV shows, newspapers, online blogs and the like have jumped on the 'torch Tiger' bandwagon. Suddenly a hero is a demon, and it is with palpable glee that society rips him apart.
I admit, when I heard a joke the other day about how Tiger can drive a golf ball and not a car, I sniggered. And my initial reaction when I saw a picture of Tiger all banged up and his wife holding a golf club, I sniggered again. But, I've been thinking about that. If it was a picture of a woman banged up, and a man holding the club that did it - well, it wouldn't have been funny. And so I take back that snigger.
It comes down to a very simple concept, in the end: Consumer's consume. Our taste for more brought us to the brink of another Great Depression, it has stolen our freedom and good sense. A bigger house, a bigger car, a bigger Christmas, more famous athletes, people who are famous for being famous, movie stars with more clothes off, public officials that barter away our future in exchange for popularity and/or money, more security at the cost of more freedoms, more, more, more, more, more. And when the more runs out, we consume the people too. Their good names, their pictures, their privacy, their relationships, their peace of mind. Whatever it takes to fill up our own emptiness. Because we'll never be full when we're consuming these things. We'll always be hungry.
So, I'm not going to read anymore stories about Tiger Woods and his troubles. I'm going to leave him alone, even if no one else does. I'm going to let him go behind his closed door and recover. And I'm going to change my focus.
Let this be my Christmas message to myself: Christmas isn't about consuming, or things, or toys I can't afford. It's not about being sad for all the things my children want and can't have, or feeling sorry for myself. It's not about wishing the IRS would send us our check already, or wishing I could buy a plane ticket for my brother-in-law Scott. It's about right now, right here, with my children and husband and being so richly blessed with life. It's about having those precious things and letting that be enough.
I've heard (and given) the argument before - "He is a public figure." Yes, he is. And a public hero, of sorts, a black man that is successful across all the boundaries of society, one of the few public figures to break through that ever-shifting boundary. He's always been a good guy, a family man, a devoted son. All good things, in the public eye.
I am fascinated to see how quickly magazines, TV shows, newspapers, online blogs and the like have jumped on the 'torch Tiger' bandwagon. Suddenly a hero is a demon, and it is with palpable glee that society rips him apart.
I admit, when I heard a joke the other day about how Tiger can drive a golf ball and not a car, I sniggered. And my initial reaction when I saw a picture of Tiger all banged up and his wife holding a golf club, I sniggered again. But, I've been thinking about that. If it was a picture of a woman banged up, and a man holding the club that did it - well, it wouldn't have been funny. And so I take back that snigger.
It comes down to a very simple concept, in the end: Consumer's consume. Our taste for more brought us to the brink of another Great Depression, it has stolen our freedom and good sense. A bigger house, a bigger car, a bigger Christmas, more famous athletes, people who are famous for being famous, movie stars with more clothes off, public officials that barter away our future in exchange for popularity and/or money, more security at the cost of more freedoms, more, more, more, more, more. And when the more runs out, we consume the people too. Their good names, their pictures, their privacy, their relationships, their peace of mind. Whatever it takes to fill up our own emptiness. Because we'll never be full when we're consuming these things. We'll always be hungry.
So, I'm not going to read anymore stories about Tiger Woods and his troubles. I'm going to leave him alone, even if no one else does. I'm going to let him go behind his closed door and recover. And I'm going to change my focus.
Let this be my Christmas message to myself: Christmas isn't about consuming, or things, or toys I can't afford. It's not about being sad for all the things my children want and can't have, or feeling sorry for myself. It's not about wishing the IRS would send us our check already, or wishing I could buy a plane ticket for my brother-in-law Scott. It's about right now, right here, with my children and husband and being so richly blessed with life. It's about having those precious things and letting that be enough.
And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. - John 6:35
Comments
I'm usually not into celebrity gossip. I have no idea how many kids Angelina and Brad have, and I STILL don't know who the Kardashians are, and why they're famous. But I knew who Tiger Woods was. And he made me happy because he seemed to have a normal, happy home life.
I'm taking it kind of personal.
It is not my business. And I have not spent a penny toward the hundreds who are bashing him. (Though I do read the headlines in the grocery store ...) But to me, he is yet another example of the decline of the family. AGAIN.
I rejoice in celebrities and other "spotlight" people who prove that bliss can be found in a faithful marriage. It proves to the many unbelievers that it is, in fact, possible. And so, when another Spotlight Person falls - and falls hard - it hurts me. I do not rejoice or laugh. I cry.
You're right. I should leave it alone. It's not my business. But maybe it is. After all - isn't the world and the family everyone's business?
I'm so not into celebrity gossip, or celebrity anything for that matter. It seems I don't have enough time to worry about the things that DO matter, so I can't spare any time rifling through their problems.
I agree and I don't at the same time. We should support the family and praise those that present a stable unit to the world. 100% The problem I see is the tendency we have to make people like Tiger into super-humans rather than super-stars. We expect perfection, something impossible, and rake them over the coals when it is not delivered. He made a mistake, I make mistakes every single day and thankfully they aren't in front of cameras. I'm just saying I'm not gonna feed on the drama that is, essentially, his family. I'm gonna think about happy stuff instead. :)