“In Cana, Jesus’ disciples become his family and the faith of the church is born. All of us are invited to that wedding feast so that the new wine will no longer run short.”
– Pope Leo XIV
Recently, I was in Napa Valley for work and was blessed to have my wife accompany me. A friend of ours is in the “biz” and set up an incredible day of tastings. What was most incredible was how much the sommeliers cared compared to how little I did.
I’ve enjoyed a glass of wine, but to this day, my sophistication begins and ends with knowing if it’s white or red. At our first tasting, after only one sip, I turned to my wife, perplexed, as a very passionate gentleman spoke about what we were tasting. I wasn’t sure whether I was already inebriated or if this man was speaking English because I only understood about 12% of what he said. Tricia shook her head at my pedestrian behavior, but I knew she was just as lost when the gentleman described what we were drinking as “whimsical.”
Our next stop was a pairing with a delicious lunch, and as I dug into one of the best dishes I have ever tasted, I loudly exclaimed, “Now this I understand!” The sommelier wasn’t amused.
As we headed back, we thanked our friend for arranging such a nice day. I apologized for being so elementary in my understanding of his industry. “That’s why I didn’t take you to the really good places,” he laughed. “It would’ve been lost on you.”
As I struggled to imagine what ridiculous adjectives might be swished around at a “really good place,” I couldn’t help but reflect on how often in life and leadership I’m describing something that might be really great in a way that assumes someone else cares as much as I do. Am I using terms I’ve learned over time without considering that it might be their first sip? As attractive as passion might be, when does it become confusing or overwhelming and leave a bad taste? Regardless of how well I think my faith has aged, am I sharing my love of the Lord and the Church in a way that meets another’s vintage?
I decided a food tour in Tuscany might be more my speed and elicit the same whimsy my wine friends enjoy. Regardless of what we are tasting this week, let’s be sure to toast to the fact that, in His abundant goodness, the Lord gives us sustenance beyond all of our words.
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