Tiger Woods Fan?

Whether you are a Tiger fan or not, you have to admit it is more fun to watch a golf tournament when he is playing than when he is not. He just has a quality that raises the playing level of all those around him. There is more pressure, more suspense, and more excitement when he is in the hunt.

So what is it that Tiger Woods did that allowed him to win last week? What must he do to win the Masters?

Show up.

Now hold on a minute…don’t look at me like that! I know this seems obvious, but I really do have a point. Not only that, this point applies to every one of us.

You Must Show Up To Win

Quite simply, there is no way to win at golf if you do not show up. You must first show up for practice. Then you must show up for the tournament. You must show up for every tee time, regardless of how you played the day before. You must show up to every tee box, even if the last three drives have gone in the water. You must show up for every shot even if your back or knee has started to ache.

I think you get the point…while it is a simple idea, it is not easy.

We Must Show Up

The same is true for us. As Christian business leaders, we know there are going to be things that go wrong. We know there is an enemy. We know that not everyone will support our positions. We know that some of our best efforts will result in delayed rewards.

And yet, we cannot forget that we are called to keep showing up. God knows our frustrations. He sees our disappointments. He feels our pains. Even so, He expects us to continue to show up.

We Get The Crown

See, He knows that if we will continue to show up for the race, we will eventually get the crown. Now only does he know this, He promises it to us in His Word (2 Timothy 4:1-8). He knows it is difficult, but He also promised that He will be with us through it all (Matthew 28:20).

Additional Benefits

There are other benefits to showing up that we sometimes overlook. I am not sure Tiger Woods even recognizes this. One additional benefit is in the impact it has on our followers. Folks, when you continue to show up day after day, despite the headwinds and pitfalls, your followers will notice. Not only do they notice, they draw strength from it and seek to emulate it.

This does not only affect your followers. Those you serve, especially the least of these, feel a sense of acceptance when you continue to show up. This acceptance may have escaped them their entire lives.

Jim Reese talked at Catalyst about how many of those served by Atlanta Mission have experienced a life of people failing to show up. It could have been parents that disappeared or well-meaning volunteers that failed to show back up after the first couple of visits.

Keep Showing Up

Regardless of how or why, Reese told leaders that we too often underestimate the impact we can have by simply continuing to show up. Like Reese, I want to encourage you to keep showing up.

Times will get tough and situations will not go your way. Do not give up. Remember that if you want to win like Tiger Woods, you must continue to show up!

Have you been consistent in showing up?

Have you seen benefits to showing up?

Where do you need encouragement to show up?