Every once in a while someone in our culture wakes up! They seem to rise above the joint aspirations of all humanity in the western world and they see over the top of our frantic quest for material goods and they call a time out. Then they make some announcement about change and everyone is stunned, especially if their cultural position is one most envied-big salary, multiple properties, in a word-one of those "have it all" people. Annika woke up this Spring, but that is getting ahead of the story.

Annika Sorenstam is the most successful professional women's golfer who has ever played the game. This sweet Sweed grew up in Skandanvia and developed a passion for golf. She went to college at the University of Arizona and has had a storied career. The girl won just about all of the major college titles. In 1994 she was the rookie of the year on the Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour (LPGA). Fourteen years later, it is more than ten major tournament victories, over seventy regular tournament wins and as of the end of last year $20,837,280 dollars down the road. Those numbers put you in stead for amazing opportunities with endorsements and advertising checks you can cash as well.

What red-blooded America male does not yearn for those numbers and those opportunities? Those are the numbers of dreams for most. Her lifestyle is the envy of the masses in this headlong quest to get all you can and grab for such financial gusto. Is not that the pinnacle? Is not that what is best? Is not that the ultimate? Is not that the good life?

"No, it is not!" That was her answer at a stunning press conference where she announced her retirement from professional golf. She is walking away from it all...at full stride in the midst of an incredible run. Time magazine's May 26th edition quoted her as saying, "I have a lot of dreams. I want to live and I'm getting married." The article later went onto to say that she wants to have a family. What? She is trading it all in for a family life that makes sense and children. What's wrong with Annika? Or is it what is right with Annika?

How many families do you know have been ruined with debt and obligation way over their head? How many families do you know that have mortgaged their children on the altar of building their portfolio and moving up the corporate ladder with mind bending and family wrecking hours? Annika has "been there and done that" and now offers a piece of advice, "Family life is worth more than it all!"

It seems counter-intuitive to what we are taught and how we live. Yet, we can see that personal tragedies abound as folk wreck, relationally and financially, on their way to the mountain peak of fiscal nirvana. It takes someone who has gone before us, someone with the courage to say what is true and someone with a will to swim against the culture of unquenchable financial appetites. It takes a high profile success story to stab us awake.

By God's design, the family is life's great treasure. Knowing God through Jesus Christ and being in his family stands at the head of the list. Then relating to your own family is next. Loving your spouse and children and celebrating the blessing of God in relating. Now not everyone has the privilege to be married. But we all have the privilege of celebrating our relatedness to our friends. People matter. They are life's great treasures. Relationships are the spoils of the good life, not assets and accumulated wealth.

Sometimes it takes an oddity like Annika and her decision to step away from golf to experience family life to wake us up to what has been embedded in God's book and God's mind all along.

"How blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways. When you shall eat of the fruit of your hands, you will be happy and it will be well with you. Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine, within your house, your children like olive plants around your table. Behold, for thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord." Psalm 128:1-4

I think Annika's next great announcement after the wedding will be a birth announcement. She is coming back to what God had designed all along.