Tiger's Transgressions

We've been inundated with the fast developing story of Tiger Woods' car accident and the follow up revelations of accusations that have, apparently, been substantiated concerning his unfaithfulness to his wife and family.

In a statement today, Tiger expressed sorrow over his "transgressions"--not a word you hear in popular culture. He says he has discussed them with his family, and that he hopes to do better in the future. He doesn't actually say what the transgressions are, and continues to assert his right to have a measure of privacy, even as someone who has earned his living as a very public figure.

I don't like the way he has been treated--especially that the National Enquirer and US Weekly have been leading the charge in printing accusations of immorality. I'm torn between two competing thoughts: the idea that those who use celebrity to enrich themselves must be ready to have the spotlight also reveal what is embarrassing, and the thought that I want his family to survive and the best place for healing for this family is outside the spotlight. The question of the the people's "right to know" is not easy to resolve.

What intrigues me is the word Tiger chose to describe what he did--transgression. It is more than a mistake. It is more than an error in judgment. It is violation of a moral law; one of the synonyms for "sin." And while I don't know if Tiger has any faith to speak of, I pray that he would not lose this sense of sin, of conviction, of failure--not just getting caught, but doing wrong. And I pray that such a sense will be the first step in his discovery of God's solution to both the guilt he feels and the evil he has done to himself and others--the mercy and grace and forgiveness to be found only in Jesus Christ.