Writing with God, Wine 101, and Taking Risks

For years I felt like I was just an actor in my own life, hanging out in a trailer smoking a cigarette as I waited for God to write a scene worth my time.

I don’t think God’s looking for actors. I think He’s looking for writing partners.

He wants us to pull up a chair, a cup of coffee, and create with Him. He wants us to stay up until 3 a.m. going through the painful, laborious, exhilarating process of working with Him on our own life script. Sure, sometimes the story might take on a life of its own, but ultimately I think God wants us to ask and wrestle with the question that is the driving force behind every great story—what does this character really want?

What do I really want?

God wants you to banter back and forth with Him, dream the next plotline—heck, even argue with Him about what should happen next because you’re so passionate about the story you are writing together.

I don’t think God wants us to just watch our own lives with a bag of popcorn and then complain when the story isn’t turning out like we thought it should. I think God wants us to help write the dang thing.

God’s waiting for us to pull up a chair next to that blank page, smile, and ask, “What are we writing next?”

Wine.

It’s what adults drink.

Preferably while listening to music that you’ll hear the next day going up an elevator or in a dentist’s office. Even if you have no desire to drink wine, if you’re going to join the Adult Major Leagues you might need to learn how to talk about drinking wine.

WINE 101

Wineology is like chemistry class. You won’t understand a thing at first, but just as long as you don’t mix too many of the wrong terms together, hopefully nothing will blow up. Think I’m exaggerating? Pop quiz hot shot. Do you like your wine smoky? Dry? How about with floral accents or a flourishing bouquet? Maybe you want it cedary or grassy? Intimidated? Don’t you worry that Baby-Bottomed Face.

If you’re not quite sure how to talk about your wine yet, that’s okay. Because how you hold your wine might at least help you fake it through the night.

It doesn’t take a connoisseur to know you don’t dare place wine in a red plastic cup. And don’t even think about pouring it in that gleaming souvenir goblet you bought at Medieval Times. That screams amateur hour.

No, your Wine Chalice must be long and elegant, and you must cup the basin of the glass like you’re holding a frightened bird that just fell out of a cedary tree. Not too hard lest you might hurt the bird, but not too loose that you let it fly away. And whenever that Wine Wizard cometh your way asking you about the earthy undertones, do not panic!

Simply stare at the glass and move it around in three tight circles like you’re trying to rock that small, scared bird gently asleep. Then hold the glass in front of your face like you’re inspecting its broken wing. Sigh slightly, yet contently, like you’ve just identified the place of wing displacement. Tilt your head at a 20–30 degree angle, nod, and then take a small, prolonged experience.

That’s the cork to a bottleful of any proper Wineology. Your future in-law will be patting you on your shoulder and asking your advice on his stock portfolio before you can even say nutty.

Your 20s are not the time to play it small. Please dream. And take calculated risks. Ask yourself the hard questions. Your 20s are this crazy unique season where complete freedom meets overwhelming opportunity.

As you get older and possibly get married and have children, making a big life change is going to be much more difficult. Don’t waste the wide-open spaces of your twenties. Explore. Take chances. Walk in faith not in fear.

However, no matter how much freedom you have in making real, adult, risky decisions, just know that decisions like getting a face tattoo are rarely a good idea. Just saying, in case you were contemplating.