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July 25, 2008
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=========================== TODAY'S ARTICLE ==========================
Playing Through Your Pain, by Rubel Shelly
Whether you play golf or not, you surely know the name Tiger Woods. So
bear with me. This week's article (from FAX of Life) 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 on the first sudden death hole. 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 He could have simply withdrawn because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
that potential was putting both his body and mind under incredible
stress. Hooray for him!
There are pains of all kinds.
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.
---------
(c) 2008 Used by permission. From Rubel Shelly <rshelly@rc.edu>'s
"FAX of Life" printed each Tuesday. See Faith Matters for
previous issues of the "FAX of Life."
RELATED LINKS:
* Facing Adversity Over and Over
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200503/20050318_adversity.html
* Personal Mountains
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200603/20060328_mountains.html
* Adversity
http://www.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/quotemeal.cgi?day=20010908&s=christian
* RubelShelly.com
http://www.rubelshelly.com/
This article can be found on the web at:
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200807/20080725_playingpain.html
=========================== FEATURED PRODUCT =========================
SEE THE MORNING, by Chris Tomlin
Award-winning artist Tomlin offers a whole new set of soul-inspiring
easy-to-sing songs about God's faithfulness.
http://shopping.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/link?260
Find more great books, CDs and videos at the Heartlight store! With
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ministry. Thanks SO MUCH for your help!
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