There was a time, not too long ago, when a young lad was asked to read the entire chapter of First Corinthians to the assembly.

Somehow reading the chapter to the audience wasn’t as daunting as trying to understand the meaning of the chapter and he asked his mother to explain some of the more confusing language.

“Mom,” the lad asked, “what does it mean to see in a mirror dimly and then we’ll see face to face?”

She looked at him and quietly said: “I don’t understand it either but I’m sure you’ll find your way.”

That’s not exactly what he was seeking but it worked and still works to this day –you’ll find your way. Her words came back to me at a recent family reunion because, it seemed, I was among strangers, yes, strangers!

Nine out of 10 of the people at the reunion were unknown to me — at a family reunion? Something wasn’t right and, fortunately, I sat with a cousin and his wife during the event. His brothers and sisters came over to us and, in our fun jabbering, we all agreed there were so many unknowns in the crowd.

I soon found a way to bring a number of us together and here’s how it happened.

My cousin’s wife noted to me that they lived on five acres of beautiful land and they loved to sit together and just chill. Half jokingly, I suggested to my cousin that they should plant some grape vines on their land and his response was: “Oh, for communion wine, you mean?” Ah, no!

I softly stated he should grow grapes to making social sipping wine and that started a conversation with a number of unknowns about wine. To say, a common thread was found connecting many of us together would be an understatement and we talked at length about our stories with wine.

Wine became a way for us to find our way to each other.

We became family talking about wine — not just talking about lost family members or health concerns. There were surprises, laughs, serious statements and a whole lot of faith, hope and love.

It seems my cousin and his wife only drink 14 Hands Reserve Merlot and do so because they just know that wine. They found their way to that Washington state wine that is named for the wild horses (each measuring 14 hands high) that roamed the area long before the winery was established.

They drink the wine quietly sitting and looking at their acreage so, again, I tried to plant a grape wine seed. I asked them to imagine drinking their own soft and sweet Merlot with dark fruit flavors and fluffy tannins that had grown on their land. I think there’s still some pruning that needs to be done to complete my suggestion and I know some people who’ll gladly help them find their way.

During our reunion discussion, it became clear they all sip a wine for differing reasons.

They all hoped to like the wine they consumed and many of them loved their special wines. Some had faith they would find one they cherished and others were quite neutral about wines. That’s what makes discussions about wine so interesting — we all have our reasons to either drink wine or to not drink wine — and we learn from each other sitting face to face.

What did they like?

One cousin enjoyed a bottle of Rosenblum Cellars Vinter’s Cuvée XXXX Zinfandel. When prodded to explain their preference, they like the history of the wine. Each bottle is honored by giving it a number (hence the XXXX in the name), which honors the age of the winery. They liked the robust blackberry and raspberry taste of the wine with its touch of cassis at the finish. I couldn’t agree with them more!

Another family member liked his Toasted Head Barrel Aged Chardonnay. Why? Because of its tropical fruit layered taste — think pineapple and peaches — and its wonderful butterscotch finishing flavor. Again, I couldn’t agree more!

As I was beginning to see my family more clearly and not so dimly, one came up to me and said

how much she liked Estancia Vineyards Pinot Noir. She liked the subtle cherry taste of the wine and how its almost too soft to notice finish, was so pleasing. She liked how it paired so well with almost any dish she put on the table. High five to her!

On my way home from the reunion, I reflected on how we’d found our way to each other by simply finding some common ground beyond our family heritage. That thought brought me back to the young lad and his interaction with his mother.

Perhaps my mother’s thoughts are what reunion are all about — you’ll find your way…to each other.

That’s what faith, hope and love is all about!

Next week, too much objectivity!

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

Cheers!