Blooms of Grace From The Masters

Today my thoughts from the deck are actually coming from the view from my couch. Here in California, we are being hit with an unseasonably strong storm. It actually started Saturday Night, and kept me inside most of the day yesterday. So I took advantage of the bad weather to watch the conclusion of “The Masters” Golf Tournament. Some of you guys out there are thinking I am pretty lucky that the storm hit the coast just in time for me to watch this years first Major Tournament.

Some of you may wonder why I would want to watch a Golf tournament, or why I have such a love for the sport of Golf. Some of you may be wondering why I would write about “The Masters” on this blog.

Simple, Grace makes room for Recovery, and Golf is a discipline of Recovery. Just like life.

I love the game of Golf for this very reason, because it is a game of recovery. I love watching the best Golfers in the world do things I can only do in my dreams. I love watching them recover from bad shots, to make the game look so easy.

This weekend at “The Masters” Grace was in full bloom as we witnessed it’s beautiful fruit in two unique stories of Recovery.

Yesterday the world was touched by the warm embrace of this years champion, Phil Mickleson and his wife Amy. They have over the past year worked together to battle cancer, which has stricken Amy. It was awesome to see their embrace, as they celebrated Phil’s victory. It was a moment where we were all allowed to celebrate a milestone in this couples journey toward Amy's complete recovery. It was a moment that gave us a glimpse into the gracious heart of Amy Mickleson, who is greatly loved on the PGA Tour. The Mickelson Family story is truly one of Grace and Recovery.

Another amazing story that was etched into the backdrop of "The Masters" this year was the acceptance shown by the Augusta Patrons toward Tiger Woods. As Tiger stepped up to the first tee the support for him was simply amazing. Hearing the crowd encouraging him during his rounds of golf this past week was an absolute blessing. The Augusta Patrons displayed to the world a character of Grace that would cause people to flood our churches if it were found in our Christian Communities.

I said earlier the very reason I love Golf, is because Golf is a game of recovery. For that reason, I celebrate Phil's victory yesterday, praying that his wife completely recovers from cancer. I also celebrate Tiger's return to Golf, and the beautiful acceptance, Grace, he was extended on the hallowed grounds of "The Masters".

May the church learn from the character of the amazing Augusta Patrons. May we make room for those who are "sinners" just like us, and extend The Grace given to us by God, through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Remember, Grace makes room for Recovery.