/usr/web/www.marshallindependent.com/wp-content/themes/coreV2/single.php
×

Passionate

The young man slowly entered the enticing room.

To him, everything looked perfect. The stage was set with alluringly soft music, romantic lighting and the table with its silver ice bucket was set for the offering. He had prepared for this night for a long time and knew the offering would be accepted. It had to be accepted for him to feel fulfilled.

He was passionate about every aspect of her. The anticipation of seeing her tonight was heart pounding. After the offering, friends and family would join them to complete the celebration and he fervently prayed for their acceptance of her.

As he seated himself beside the soft warmth of the fireplace, he tried to ease his anxiety by thinking of the good times they would have together in the future. He hoped his passion for her would be seen by the group gathering beside him in a few minutes. He had found her a few months ago and it seemed his whole life had been leading to that moment of discovery.

He waited and suddenly the door opened and she appeared! The wine steward came to him and professionally presented her to him — a bottle of Kung Fu Girl Washington State Riesling wine.

The wine steward pulled the cork from the bottle and gently poured a tiny bit into the young man’s Riedel wine glass. The sight of her was beautiful, her scent was perfect and her taste fully satisfied the young man. At that moment, his friends and family appeared and he offered her to them. She was a rousing success and it was a memorable evening as they celebrated the young fellow’s birthday.

So, before the wine appeared, where were your thoughts headed — in other words, what is your passion? What are you passionate about and why?

Are you passionate about a certain person, place, hobby, food or music? Does fashion get your heart pounding? As you walk your life’s pathway, what never fails to grab you and increase your heartbeat? Whatever that is, it’s your passion and it’s very personal.

I recently had the opportunity and honor to attend an organization’s staff retreat in Madelia. It so happens I’m a governing board member and I enjoy getting to know and relate to folks who are out there helping others in our communities. And, in full transparency, the retreat was held in Madelia’s Lost Sanity Brewery’s taproom and I do kind of enjoy such places.

Why my passion for local taprooms? Because they’re dreams of some of us that are being fulfilled for the rest of us to enjoy. It’s that passion that excites me about these places and I’ve visited a number of them around the country. In every taproom and brewery, I meet passionate people and that’s what I found during the staff retreat in Madelia.

Naturally, no brews were poured during the retreat and, at one point, I had the pleasure to address the assembled staff. These are folks who give their professional lives in service to others — is there a higher calling? During my mumblings to the staff, I asked for a show of hands of those who are passionate about what they’re doing.

Everyone’s hand went straight up.

However, it was more than just the raising of one’s hand in the air at a staff retreat. Raising one’s hand in such an environment is expected. It’s what I looked for all day and saw time and again as I talked with and listened to the staff.

Over the years, I’ve learned to look at people’s eyes and, it’s in them, where I can see feelings. As I talked with and viewed the staff, I saw passion in their eyes for what they do and how they live their lives. If that passion could be bottled, it would be a bottle of Kung Fu Girl Riesling.

It may not have escaped your thoughts that I enjoy a bottle of Riesling. I learned about the wine quite a few years ago when I was stationed in Germany and tasted real wine for the first time in my life.

It’s the memory of those German wines that I compare with to today’s Rieslings and Kung Fu Girl reminded me of my time in Germany.

The wine has the acidity and minerality that I seek in a wine. Because there’s a touch of sweetness to it, it’s truly the wine of the gods. What does Kung Fu Girl offer?

One starts with the sight of it. Beautiful light straw coloring catches your eye and when coupled with the apple and lemon/lime aroma, you know something special is about to happen. Then you taste it. It’s nicely acidic as a Riesling should be and the green apple and lime tastes bring noticeable tartness to your senses. It’s semi-sweet and finishes with a touch of tartness. There’s passion in this wine!

Oh, I should admit that a 25-ounce can of Lost Sanity Brewing’s Manic Black somehow got home with me after the staff retreat. It sits and cools in my fridge and I eagerly wait for that special moment to offer it to someone.

I’m positive you’re passionate about something, too. Embrace that passion and let it lead you to a fuller life.

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

Cheers!

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.38/week.

Subscribe Today