Drink the wine

We were all enjoying the conversation and connection when he stepped up onto the ledge to direct our attention to him for an announcement. His Italian accent was thick and beautiful as it paid homage to his homeland and the culture from which he came.   He offered us a poem to be delivered by our choosing, as a sober man, or as a drunkard. The side of the room in which I sat quickly encouraged the drunkard, and he obliged.

He raised an almost empty bottle of wine with just one sip remaining as his words took us on a journey to explore the relevance of this last drink that remained captured inside the bottle. His words asked us to understand the last drink did not exist in the past as the bottle was once full. Once the cork was released, we took turns pouring wine into glasses to be shared with all who came. The vitality of the wine nourished us in a way as it continued on the journey the winemaker intended. Until then, the man of wisdom shared the profound meaning of the last remaining drink. “Should I drink it?” he asked the crowd with slurred words to honor the drunkard version we asked of him, yet we remained silent and still, listening to what he would say next, sensing there was more to the story.

As he gave careful consideration to his question, he explained this last drink does not exist in the future as the future itself does not exist. What exists in this moment is this last drink of wine, right now. “Should I drink it?” he asked once again as if to highlight the importance of the question and consequence of our actions.

As his words tugged on heart strings, the message became clearer. Perhaps due in part to the effect the magical elixir had on us as we listened with soft Mona Lisa smiles on our faces as we sat attentively and eager to hear what was to come next.

Somehow, his words became sweeter as he explained there is a phrase that is used to honor this very moment and the choice to take the last drink when it comes to fruition. We understood the importance for this choice to be made indivudally.

“Should I live in the past and remember the taste of the wine on my palette and the times we shared the wine? Or perhaps should I save the last drink for another day that may never come?” he asked.

He smiled and raised the bottle as he proclaimed; “Ahh, I will drink it now and proudly say ‘CARPE DIEM’ for the wisest choice is to enjoy it now while we have the chance”. And with that, we were reminded that time is now and life is happening, waiting for us to drink it in as it comes. As we raised our glasses, our hearts were lifted, as we symbolically quenched our thirst for life with the last drink from the bottle. We shared this poignant moment in our awareness that this moment is all that is promised.

In my moments of quiet reflection, my thoughts have come back to that experience and the feeling and sensations that were invited by this man’s poem. Understanding that my mind is the meaning maker, I recognize what I make the wine mean. Sure, it is an alcoholic beverage, and yet so much more. In this experience, it is a symbol of life itself. Sometimes dry, harsh and acidic, sometimes fruity, sweet and refreshing. Aren’t these the flavors of life itself at times? Aren’t all the tastes needed to experience the full flavor of wine and life itself?

Wine is also a symbol of the blood and resurrection of Jesus Christ used in communion. A powerful reminder that in any moment we can chose to surrender to our higher power and divine calling that is experienced in the “presence” moment of now.

This transformative power is ever and always with us, should we allow ourselves to be crushed by divine love. Grapes have no issue with this. They do not think of the crushing to be violent or harmful as they do not think or judge. They simply submit to the winemakers knowledge when it is time to harvest and the crushing so they can be fermented by the spirit to transform into wine. Yet, as humans, we resist this alchemical gift.

Let us not waste the opportunity of squeezing meaning from the middle aged man who courageously and beautifully shared his poem in English no less. What a beautiful teaching to draw upon courage to come to another country and speak a powerful poem of presence and salvation in a language that is not your mother tongue.

What I observed as I listened to his words was that he himself was like a fine wine. With enough age to have experience and wisdom to speak from, and yet alive with robust vitality and awareness to know to "seize the day" is a choice. As we all raised our glasses and offered our cheers, I am left with a deeper appreciation for all the flavors life has to offer, resolute in my wish to savor every last drop.  

Are you living life to the last drop?
Are you willing to be crushed like a grape to be transformed into your higher calling?
What keeps you clinging to the vine in control, image, or fear?

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