Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar poured on a wound, is one who sings songs to a heavy heart. (Proverbs 25:20, NIV)
What would you say to John Daly?
A week and a half ago, when he showed up for the Sanford Invitational on the PGA Tour Champions, Daly announced that he had been diagnosed with bladder cancer. An immediate surgery cut away the tumor, but Daly says it’s a type of cancer apt to return. “We’ll just see what happens,” he said. “Maybe there’s a miracle.”
Then, remarkably, strongly, Daly fired three rounds in the 60s and grabbed a top-12 finish.
Daly says he will live his life: “I’m going to have some fun.”
As you might guess, this didn’t sit well with some who read Daly’s story. Like all of us, they are well aware of Big John’s idea of fun. He’s never hidden his drinking and smoking and other escapades. He’s lived his life out loud, as they say, and this has endeared him to many, many fans. But there are others who quickly go here: “You reap what you sow.” They are not wrong, though it seems an unkindly response.
So the question makes sense for us all: What would you say to John Daly? And if not to this Big John, how about to the Big John at your club—or to Life-of-the-Party Sally? When the bad news comes, and it seems closely connected to the life lived before it, are there particular words that “a good Christian” is supposed to say?
When the time comes, do not forsake the gospel, the message that no matter what you’ve done, God has opened a door for you to come to him.
We would do well to begin by remembering that “a good Christian”—one who really wants to reflect the heart and message of Christ—knows that one’s spirit often drives one’s words. Even more accurately, when the Spirit of God is active in your heart, the words that come from your mouth will show that you have him in mind. All of which is to say that you may need to check on yourself before you check on another. Are you approaching that other in love?
Once our spirit is checked, we may approach the one who is hurting, including the one who has possibly hurt himself. We do so first with a listening ear. We can say something like, “I’ve heard about your diagnosis. So tough. I want you to know that I’m hurting for you and ready to listen any time you want to talk. I’ve started to pray for you and your family, and I’ll keep doing that for sure.”
That last line can be meaningful even to the person who isn’t ready or willing to talk to you. Prayer opens doors to pained hearts and conflicted minds.
Finally, you may be given the chance to talk further, to speak meaningful words into the person’s ears, mind, and heart. When this time comes, do not forsake the gospel, the message that no matter what you’ve done, God has opened a door for you to come to him. Jesus suffered the ultimate suffering, all the way to death, to open that door to all who would walk through it. Explain that Christ’s comfort is available now and that life with him is available for all eternity, given to those who believe.
Many others will have things to say to your Big John or Life-of-the-Party Sally. They may even offer to join them in “having some fun.” But it may be you alone who has the opportunity to point them to the one alone who has “the words of eternal life” (John 6:68). Go ahead and say them.
—
Jeff Hopper
September 22, 2020
Copyright 2020 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.
Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay