Some days you're Sergio Garcia, starting the British Open with a three shot lead and the world at your feet. Sunday's Dallas Morning News was certainly confident of the 27-year-old Spaniard's chances, with a headline reading "Garcia is poised for major breakthrough." But anyone who knows what happened at yesterday's tournament is aware of one of the most turbulent, gut-wrenching final rounds in golf history.

Garcia would soon lose his lead. An Irishman named Padraig Harrington would then vault to the top, but put two balls in the water on the 18th hole. All Sergio needed was a par on the final hole. His putt looked into the hole, then changed its mind. Harrington won the playoff. At the awards ceremony, Garcia looked sick. This morning's New York Times got it right: "Harrington wins a war of nerves at British Open."

Now, it's possible or even likely that nothing in the last two paragraphs interested you. You don't know a birdie from a bogie, a par from a pear. Golf is "flog" spelled backwards, and even reading about it reverses the term for you. But I'll bet you know Sergio Garcia or his twin. You know people who are wondering this morning if they will ever achieve their dreams, who are afraid they'll never be more than they are. It's likely that the Sergio Garcia you know best is yourself.

What do we do then?

Our options are four. We can quit the game of golf, or love, or parenting, or work. But the only real loser is the one who quits trying to win. We can pretend that the tournament didn't really matter, or we didn't really try our hardest, or our discouragement isn't really important. But we know that we're lying to ourselves. We can decide to try harder to do better, resolving that we can do anything if we'll get up earlier or stay up later. But we tried our hardest and it wasn't enough. We have no reason to think it will ever be.

Our fourth option: we can give our defeat to the God who loves and likes us anyway. We can remember that God's holiness requires him to redeem all that he permits or causes. We can rejoice in the fact that "our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us" (Romans 8:18), and look for the ways we can grow from this loss and pain. Anyone can choose the first three options. It takes real courage and character to choose the fourth.

Is today that day for you?

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