Lessons from Sports

Graeme McDowell is not a household name. But on Monday morning, the world was watching him. McDowell is a thirty-one year old golfer from Northern Ireland. The Ryder Cup, a bi-annual golf contest between Europe and the United States, was in his hands. Dozens of matches had been played between teams and individuals, but the entire Ryder Cup came down to his battle against Hunter Mahan. Mahan only had to tie McDowell to keep the Cup in the hands of the Americans. McDowell’s long birdie putt on the sixteenth hole and his solid play on the seventeenth hole won the Cup for the Europeans. Sports are a great metaphor for life.


Life is determined by a few defining moments

McDowell stood 15 feet away from the 16th hole. If he makes the putt he puts himself in excellent position to win. If he misses he puts himself in a precarious position of having to gain a shot in the last two holes. He has practiced the putt thousands of times. With perfect speed and aim, the putt sinks to the bottom of the hole.

Sometimes we get to determine our defining moments in life. Sometimes we don’t. Regardless, the lesson from McDowell is to be prepared. Wisdom, courage, and excellence aren’t made in life’s defining moments…they are displayed in life’s defining moments. The will to be great in life means nothing without the will to prepare to be great.

Faithfulness comes before greatness

Only in the last year has McDowell made a major impact on the golfing world. His upset win at the U.S. Open surprised many. His performance at the Ryder Cup makes him one of golf’s elites. But before he was great, he was faithful. Countless hours were spent at the driving range and on the putting green and in the gym.

Perseverance, discipline, and risk all precede greatness. The power to persevere when times get tough. The desire and determination to be dedicated and disciplined long after others have quit. And, the readiness to risk failure because the reward of fortune seems so much more compelling than being safe, but average. Greatness in life only happens when it is preceded by perseverance, discipline, and risk.

The real heroes in life are usually ordinary people

Graeme McDowell is no Tiger Woods or Bobby Jones. And most likely he never will be. But there was a day when he was a hero. Europe celebrated when he made the putt. He did a fairly simple thing with greatness.

Likewise, most of us will not be Billy Graham or Mother Teresa, but there have been, are, and will be days when we get to be ordinary selves. People exist who are hurting and you are one of the few people who can reach those persons. Love. Pray. Invite. Care. Share. Embrace. With a simple act of love and grace…you can change your world, somebody else’s world, and the world.

The best is yet to come…

Craig