Jordan Speith won the Travelers golf tournament this past weekend in dramatic fashion. He holed out a 60 foot shot from a bunker. Unbelievable shot and a win that earned him the right to celebrate! And celebrate he did. Tossing his putter and the bunker rake and then a flying chest bump with his caddie.
Spieth is now the youngest player after Tiger Woods to win ten tournaments in his career. But his astounding win is not his most important victory of the year.
Golf Digest ranked “the top 30 nice guys of the PGA tour.” Players were graded on several criteria, including treatment of fans, being a good role model, treating the “little people” well, and being “nice when no one is looking.” Who came in first place? Jordan Spieth clearly gets the “BIGGER PICTURE!”
Three years ago, he established a charitable trust that supports youth with special needs, junior golf, military families, and the fight against pediatric cancer.
In the post tournament interview, Speith made a comment that caught my attention. “When I look back on my life, what we accomplish [with the foundation] will be far more important than anything I do in golf.”
That has encouraged and motivated me to consider what I will do that transcends my vocational ministry? What will my family and friends say about my life when it ends on this earth?
Maybe you would like to consider those questions in your life as well? And if you’re worried about the old adage regarding nice guys finish last…well, not always.
Maya Angelou once said, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
—AChuck