Do Know a “Good Liar”?
Today I was watching the PGA Championship online when I heard something I had never heard before. Tiger Woods was once again leading the field. He has won the last two weeks of tournaments and, in my opinion, is playing the best golf he has played since he’s come back from the knee injury. He was running on all cylinders and it was great to watch. But, while Tiger and his caddy Steve Williams were debating on a club selection for a shot, one of the announcers said that Steve Williams told him in an interview that he sometimes lies to Tiger about a yardage to get him to hit the club he wants him to hit.
Understandably, I almost fell off my chair when I heard this. I would think that of all people Tiger Woods wouldn’t need his caddy lying to him to make sure he hits the right club. I would think that the man who has 70 career PGA Tour wins could pick the right club without anyone’s help. I would think Tiger would want the truth every time. Wouldn’t you?
The more I thought about this, the more I realized how valuable the relationship between Tiger and Steve is. They are very close, both professionally and personally. They both have the utmost confidence in each other’s ability. And, Steve is not afraid to push Tiger to another level of greatness by walking the line.
Here’s the question I have been pondering as a result of this revelation. Do I have anyone around me who knows how to tell me a “good lie”? Do I have anyone around me who knows me well enough, cares about me enough, and isn’t afraid to push me when necessary even when it means telling me a “good lie”?
I’m not at all advocating lying to people for your own personal gain, or to get them to do what you want them to do, but my eyes have definitely been opened to the value of a “good lie” from a trusted comrade. I think we all need those people who, whether they ever have to lie to you or not, we trust enough to allow them to push us to the next level even if it means they are walking a thin line of appropriateness.
August 17th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
I was just having a similar conversation with Doug today. It was my observation that while the growth of small groups in churches is a good thing, it can’t stop there. It’s like level one is Sunday morning, Level 2 is small groups, and then there’s level three which is like a mentor-ship or someone who can really push us along towards the goal. (similar to accountability, but so much more) The sad thing is you may have 90% participation on Sunday, 50-60% in small groups, but most likely there’s like 0-1% living within ‘level 3′ At least that’s what I would say within our church.
I think small groups are great, but the reality is that they’re only going to go a little farther than what is experienced on Sunday…and that’s not enough!
August 18th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
I have to agree with you on that. There are very few people who are ready and willing to go to that level of true accountability. Even though it takes a lot of time and trust to get to that point with someone it’s a worthy journey to take, and one that the church should encourage more. I like to think of small groups as just another way to do what we do on Sunday mornings as a church. It’s not deep discipleship, but the building of friendships and community that is the goal. We have to go beyond that on a personal level to see real discipleship happen and have to look to others to hold us accountable to that.
Good thoughts man.