The sad, even tawdry circumstances of Tiger Woods—proving again that big money seems to buy deep loneliness—remind me of another situation involving golf and lack of perspective.
I had the occasion to visit two ailing hospital patients and discovered that God is in the discernment of the believer. I actually dreaded seeing Mr. Elwood, who was truly suffering the pain of a broken ankle with torn ligaments. My congregant liked to say that the only good thing about God was that God and golf had the same first two letters.
Mr. Elwood was exceedingly wealthy and, at the time of my visit, was surrounded by a doting wife and his two adult sons. Known for his grumpiness, a bit unaware of the genuine concern his family had for him, he immediately seized upon my entry into the well-appointed private room: "So what kind of God are you selling? I am in so much agony that I'll have to miss the big golf tournament down in Florida next month! What kind of God would do that to me?"
'The only good thing about God is that God and golf have the same first two letters.'
I listened and nodded and told him that his physical pain was certainly debilitating and that there would surely be other golf tournaments. It was a long time ago, this visit, and I was young and naïve, and didn’t have the gumption to realize then that Mr. Elwood was just an ungrateful bastard who needed more than I could give him.
Then I made my way to see Mrs. Glueck, truly wondering if I had the wherewithal to comfort, now, a person whose spine had been damaged in by disease and was doomed to paralysis.
"Oh, welcome, dear Rabbi!" Mrs. Glueck declared with a big smile, even she was motionless in a room that was somehow filled with light, though there were no windows. "How are you?" I inquired, immediately drawn to the strange, unlikely sense of hope that permeated this very serious situation.
"I am so lucky," said Mrs. Glueck. "The doctors and nurses here are wonderful. People are constantly looking in on me. I have an endless stream of visitors and everyone is so filled with kindness and care. But the best part is my grandchildren. I can't turn my head, of course, but you look at the pictures and drawings they have all done for me. So beautiful. Who can lose hope when you get such love?"
I beheld the simple crayon drawings all about the room, the scrawled declarations of love and prayer, and even as Mrs. Glueck, unable to move, stared at me with a beaming smile. I realized that God was in that hospital room, and that she was even richer than Mr. Elwood had ever been. I also realized that I had work to do--compassionate work--with the man who could win golf tournaments but not much else.
Image: Tiger Woods [AP]
Comments
He's no example for anybody but bankers maybe. You are too nice.
A comment was removed from this space that was outrageously racist and belongs in the sick bay with its sender.
Let he who is without sin cast the first stone
Keep this in perspective. A man cheats on his wife with a hot babe. This isn't news unless you also think "guy is late paying his VISA bill" is also news. Sure, instead of one girlfriend he had a dozen whores. But what's the point of being a billionaire if you can't live a little. He'll pay the price every family man does who steps out on his wife although she might consider there was pretty obviously nothing more going on than lust. Aren't we all subject to that drive from time to time? And of course none of it's our business, jjd
Ben, Another nice article! Too many believe that Tiger is rich and having many lovers is one benefit of wealth. How wrong they are! Tiger is poor and morally bereft. He has a beautiful, "swimsuit model" wife yet looks elsewhere, and is miserable while doing so. I pity him! Quite obviously, the rich may need more compassionate help than the poor.
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