I understand it. I’ve seen it, heard it and I’m still always amazed by it.

What is “it?” A sense of commitment that leads to a sense of community and cause. Within the last two weeks, I’ve experienced both in very different settings and, in both instances, I was amazed.

Tyler, my hometown, is a Danish community and this heritage lives in the form of Aebleskiver Days (aebleskivers are little round pancakes), the Danebod Lutheran Church and in Danebod Folk Camps during the summer. It was during a folk camp that I had an encounter with commitment.

I wanted to know why people came from across the country — from Oregon to Massachusetts — to annually gather in the middle of the prairie.

Introducing myself to one of camp’s directors, I asked if it would be acceptable for me to join them during their week’s final social hour and was told I was always welcome to join them. It wouldn’t be polite to attend a social hour without bringing a gift so I brought along a bottle of Chilean Natura Rosé to share with them.

We chatted for a bit and it was enjoyable to watch the families interact — their children of all ages mingled with adults of all ages and there was a sense of relationship that exuded from the area. As I poured a glass of wine for the co-director, Annette, I asked her to explain why she kept coming back to Tyler for this summer folk camp and, by extension, why did these people keep returning.

I expected her reply to be about the great speakers, the music and dancing, the food and to some extent those subjects were in her answer. But then she floored me. With a pause for reflection, she said how she would miss the people — the coming together in a safe place where kids can roam and parents didn’t worry. As I poured another glass of the beautiful pink and soft fruity tasting wine for each of us, she encouraged me to talk with the other folks gathered around the tables and so I spoke with people of all ages.

As I spoke with a teenager, I asked her why she enjoyed the camp and why she kept coming back every summer. Her answer was: “We do things together. There is a sense of community.” We should listen to our youth.

And, then, there’s the sense of cause.

For the last few months, it’s been my great pleasure to be part of an awesome panel. The group is comprised of people of differing cultural (Hmong, Karen, Hispanic, American Indian and Caucasian) and employment backgrounds. It was formed to make a presentation on the changing demographics of this part of the state and the effects these changes have on all of us.

This last week we presented at a state conference in Duluth and even though it’s the third time we’ve presented around the state, their stories continue to move me. They all have a sense of cause — even though we come to this state from different parts of the world, our stories are the same. That story is the desire to live in peace, have gainful employment and to raise our families in the hope they’ll have a better life.

The night before our presentation we ate dinner at Grandma’s Saloon and Grill. It was a delight to hear their chatter, laughter and to be with their children. Along with a variety of soft drinks, we bonded over a Prairie Cucumber Vodka Sour cocktail and beers including a Mankato Mad Butcher IPA beer, a Corona and a Blue Moon.

The next day each panelist told his/her story to the assembled audience. Their stories included the hurts, hopes, despairs, determinations and best workplace practices in their lives. They were amazing!

One of my goals while in Duluth was to visit Vikre Distillery and to buy a bottle of their Voyageur Aquavit. Before bottling, the spirit is aged in cognac casks and my mouth couldn’t wait to taste it. It didn’t disappoint me! There is the expected caraway, cardamom and orange peel taste, but the aging softens everything and makes for a most satisfying sip.

The panel presentation was finished, we parted ways and I drove home. Later that night I poured a small glass of my newly purchased aquavit and raised my glass to my panelist “family.” Their cause is my cause.

Commitment and cause — it’s been a most satisfying couple of weeks for me. I wish you all a sense of commitment and a sense of cause in your life.

Next week, where is wine produced?

As always, eat and drink in moderation but laugh with reckless abandon!

Cheers!