Faith Through the Journey

I am not a golfer, and only occasionally do I watch the major tournaments. One memory, however, transcends the sport of golf. In June of 1999, Payne Stewart won the U.S. Open in Pebble Beach. On October 25, 1999, Payne Stewart won his eternal reward when he entered the presence of Jesus in heaven. The private plane carrying Stewart and some business associates had a malfunction of the internal air compression system, and as they continued to climb in their out-of-control plane, they simply closed their eyes on earth and opened them in heaven. The men had each settled their eternal destination by trusting Jesus as their Savior. I remember my son calling to tell me about this tragedy. I knew Payne had a young family who still needed a husband and father, and I immediately thought of the great sadness they were feeling.

At his memorial service, Payne’s long-time friend and fellow pro golfer Paul Azinger shared the most important truths about him in front of many of the world’s greatest golfers. “Payne Stewart has finished the race, he has kept the faith, and now the crown of righteousness is his. Payne Stewart loved life and loved people. During this past year, everyone who knew him saw a dramatic change in his life. They saw in Payne what the Bible calls a peace which passes all understanding. Only God can do that because only God can change a heart. Whoever you are, wherever you are, whatever you have done. If you feel the tug of God’s Spirit on your heart, do not turn away. If, like Payne, you want to know the happiness and peace that only Jesus Christ can bring, I invite you to confess your sins and receive Him as your Savior.”

The weekend before Payne Stewart entered eternity, he actually missed a tournament cut. It turned out to be a tremendous gift to his family. Rather than being away from home, Payne was a line judge at his daughter Chelsea’s volleyball match, and attended the local high school football game with his son Aaron. His wife Tracey called Payne “the most beautiful man I ever knew”. All the days of his life were written before one of them ever came to be. I’m sure that on this anniversary date the Stewart family has many memories of Payne, and hopefully with the passage of time the pain of his loss has lassened and the memories have grown sweeter. They will never forget him, and his influence on their lives will always be present. They can look forward to the grand reunion they will one day share!