Playing Through Your Pain

Whether you play golf or not, you surely know the name Tiger Woods. So bear with me. This message isn't so much about golf as life.

Almost a month ago now, Tiger outlasted Rocco Mediate in this year's U.S. Open. Playing the course at Torrey Pines in San Diego, the two were tied after four days. They were still tied at the end of an 18-hole playoff. Tiger won in sudden death on the 19th. Some say it was the greatest U.S. Open in history.

No, the score wasn't the lowest ever. No, it wasn't won by an eagle from the fairway. No, there was no miracle shot that ended things. The miracle was that the man who won was able to complete the competition.

Tiger Woods played the tournament with a torn anterior cruciate ligament and two stress fractures below the left knee. As I watched part of the Open on TV, it was obvious that the world's greatest golfer was in excruciating pain at times. His powerful swing would contort his whole body, wrench his injured knee in particular, and register quite dramatically on his ordinarily poised face.

Golf is only a game, but watching a professional athlete compete through such pain was inspiring. He could have simply withdrawn because of the injury. Fans would have been disappointed but would have understood. He could have played to his pain and hit the ball less aggressively. He might have fallen back into the pack and taken a high score and low finish. He would have none of it.

Tiger played through his pain. He wouldn't quit. He gave his best on every hole. He insisted on playing to his full potential - even when the potential was putting both his body and mind under incredible stress. Hooray for him!

The winner of this year's U.S. Open had successful reconstructive surgery on his damaged knee about ten days later. He will miss the remainder of this year's PGA tournament events, of course, while he rehabs the knee. But few people doubt he will be ready to play the tour next year. He is, after all, Tiger Woods. He is the ultimate competitor. He doesn't quit.

There are pains of all kinds. Physical trauma, broken relationships, failed ventures, consequences of wrongs done - all are different and all the same. And each of us has to decide about quitting, playing to the pain, or working through.

As you're deciding what to do with yours, think about why so many people are speaking of Tiger Woods with such admiration these days - even the folks like me who hardly know which end of a golf club to hold.

True courage isn't just outlasting difficulty but turning it into triumph.

Rubel Shelly

Rubel Shelly is a Preacher and Professor of Religion and Philosophy located in Rochester Hills, Michigan. In addition to church and academic responsibilities, he has worked actively with such community projects as Habitat for Humanity, American Red Cross, From Nashville With Love, Metro (Nashville) Public Schools, Faith Family Medical Clinic, and Operation Andrew Ministries. To learn more about Rubel please go to: www.RubelShelly.com