It is called coping in today's world. This is how we deal with issues, major issues such as death or divorce. How do you deal?

I grew up in a "typical" fashion, enjoying a large variety of sports. I did not play football, although I loved to watch. Nor, to my father's disappointment, did I enjoy or do well at tennis. However, baseball, track, basketball, a little volleyball. Basketball was always my favorite. My kids took up soccer and lacrosse, two other sports I grew to appreciate.

My real favorite came a little later in life -- during my college years when those on my dorm floor introduced me to golf. I would skip classes on the nice days to spend time walking the links. I never was super good, but I loved to play. In my late twenties and early thirties I played to a 13 handicap, not too bad for a weekend golfter.

As time passed, other demands left little time for the links. As life changed even more, golf disappeared. Now, in my pain condition I would fear attempting to swing a club. Nonetheless, I still love the game.

This week is the Open, the British Open. As Friday's round ends, two of the three leaders have something in common other than golf. These two men have both lost a parent in the past few months. Tiger Woods lost his father and Christ DeMarco lost his mother.

During an interview, DeMarco spoke of the golf being a healing time becasue he could concentrate on golf and forget about his loss.

I grieve for these two men -- and for thousands of others who loose loved ones everyday. I have to wonder, however, about how all of these people coup. What is the basis by which the world measures grief, loss, emotional issues. If the world has no future hope, where do they see loved ones who are no dead?

I have no idea the beliefs and backgrounds of the two golfers. I am not picking on them. The amount of time the announcers have spent talking about their personal losses opened my mind to these thoughts.

Death and other coping issues must be over-powering for mody people. They have no foundation upon which to develope a method of dealing with the combined emotions and rational or irrational thoughts that floating through their heads. So, they turn to other methods -- they work harder, they drink more, they turn to drugs or sex, or golf or tennis or softball.

Compare this to a Christian's perspective -- we have this magnificent future hope of glory in heaven with God. This is the real basis of Christianity -- the hope of glory. Our future is assured. If our loved ones are saved, they will join us in heaven. If our loved ones were unsaved, well, that makes it harder on us emotionally, but we still trust God and His plan. He will make all well in the end.

We will still grieve. We still weep and cry and hurt. Only, as believers we have the assurance that God is there with us as we cry. He will make all of us well. What a magnificent hope.

What makes all of this even better is that this manner of coping applies not only for death but for any issue that arises in our lives. We can trust God in all things. He brings us great peace no matter what the problem.

So, we might go play golf too. But we do so with God walking the course with us just like in the Garden of Eden. What a wonderful thought.

How do you cope?

Jim A