letters to children – EAST WILLOW PLACE

Poured Out Like Champagne: Joy in the Midst of Hard

There will be seasons of your life where you feel you have been firmly and irrevocably stuck in the dark, upside down, and for an indeterminate time. Yet you must remember: you are never forgotten or left alone. Each day the Master’s hand is there with you in the dark, turning you, noticing you, carefully and expertly caring for you.

My Beautiful Loves:

Do you remember how in the Old Testament, God’s law commanded that once they were in the Promised Land, the Israelites were to offer up a drink offering of wine along with the other sacrifices they gave? (Numbers 15, 28, 29, Leviticus 23) This was to mark the Sabbath of resting in peace in the land after their long time of travels and battles, and was to be a gift to God. The wine represented the joy in the sacrifice, the celebratory part of offering up the best of one’s labors. Later in the New Testament, the Apostle Paul speaks about how he is being “poured out as a drink offering” (Philippians 2:17, 2 Timothy 4:6), comparing his work to the wine offered alongside the labors of the churches, both giving joy to God and others as he poured out his efforts for the Kingdom of God.

One morning during my quiet time, I prayed that if I was being poured out as a drink offering to God, I wouldn’t be just wine, I would be champagne! Champagne is a very special, sparkling wine that can only come from a specific place in the world, the Champagne region of northern France[1]. It is traditionally used for celebrations and joyful occasions, and can be quite costly. I wanted God to find such joy in my delighted, exuberant life of vivacious service and celebration of outpouring of love to Him that it was something He would find delicious and intoxicating.

In the days following this prayer I began to research Champagne – both the region and the wine, because I realized I didn’t know very much about it. I figured if that’s what I wanted to be like, I should probably learn about it!

I discovered that the place known for the vineyards and wineries that created celebratory wines used for toasting and parties was also “one of the most blood-soaked and fought-over regions in the world, let alone Europe (Millar, 2014)“. Champagne lay in the path of a main route for any of the many armies marching through eastern France, and as such, experienced much bloodshed and battle. The birthplace of these famous wines endured many vicious wars, many of which have left scars and residual evidence on local architecture and land to this day.

It might seem intuitive that champagne, being such a bubbly, joyous wine, would come from somewhere bright and sunny with fertile soil, but instead the region of Champagne is the most northerly wine-growing region in the world, and as such, is diabolically difficult to produce high or even certain yields of grapes. It is misty, cool, often rainy, and a notoriously capriciously-weathered area. The soils there are known to be exceptionally chalky, dry, poor, and challenging to produce any high yields of crops. That is without mentioning the mildew, various diseases, and pests that also plague local vine growers.

After all these challenges to just growing a vineyard of grapes, the real difficulty begins: Actually creating the wine. The process of producing champagne is highly regulated by French governmental regulations and a bureau specifically designated for the enforcement of strict requirements on things like: when to harvest (a short window of a few weeks), how much they may harvest, the specific type of grapes allowed, how many pressings are allowed, how much juice is allowed, and many other stringent guidelines.

After the bottling is finally complete, the task is far from done: then comes the lengthy wait in the dark. It is estimated that over six hundred miles of tunnels underground were built to cellar the champagne – and it takes about a minimum of year and a half to age to maturity. It is stored in the dim coolness underground in racks, tilted upside down. Every day a vintner carefully turns the bottles by hand. Every single one. They do this so the sediment in the wine will collect in the neck of the bottle and leave the wine clear.

Then the wine is flash-frozen, the tops are popped off, the frozen chunk of ice in the neck with all the sediment is shot out, they add a dose of sugar to increase the bubbling fermentation of the yeast, and it is recorked and recapped tightly to prepare it for labeling and sale.

Then these bottles travel around the corner or around the world, where finally they are given their moment – a joyful celebration! And they are uncorked, poured out, enjoyed, and emptied.

This entire process from vine to empty glass is fascinating to me. I think we can learn a lot from champagne. Through no choice of our own, we may encounter tragic loss, suffering, and grief that leave deep wounds on our hearts and blood in the soil of our lives. Sometimes the neat rows of vines of a peaceful, happy life that we long for actually look more like miles of muddy, embattled trenches scarring the landscape of our years as we face trauma, pain, and struggle.

My children, I want you to understand: Life can be very hard in seasons. Life will bring sorrow and pain. This is not a threat – it’s a promise. “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows,” Jesus said (John 16:33). And Paul declares: “Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” (2 Timothy 3:12) We all cope with the realities of a world marred by sin and death (Romans 5:15), but we also have hope! The sentence above spoken by Jesus was not finished: “In this world you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

When we place our faith in our lovely and loving Master Gardener, we know that even though a current time seems dark and heavy, we know that He has endured the worst this world had to offer and has emerged victorious, leading the way for us who live keeping our eyes on Him (Hebrews 12:2-3). He was the Man of Sorrows, familiar with our grief (Isaiah 53:3), and He will give us the peace-filled hearts we need, no matter the wars raging outside (John 14:27).

While we may wish for the sunny skies and lush, fertile ground of a blissful, idyllic home environment, we might endure the cold mist of family discord, storms of disappointments or broken hopes, difficult chronic health situations or lack of financial stability. Various things might be in our lives that seem like a plot of harsh, infertile chalk to grow in or like swarms of pests that suck the lifeblood out of us and wither our best efforts. James encourages us to consider such situations as opportunities to experience God’s great joy (James 1:2). Romans encourages, “Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying” (Romans 12:12).

This is not only counter-cultural, it’s counter-natural; which is exactly the point. These situations are allowing us to grow in ways that aren’t according to our humanity but our spirituality. We are given these challenges to practice the Spirit-led joy that will set us apart and mark us as children of God, the brothers and sisters of Christ Jesus (Romans 8:29), who for the joy before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and now sits at the right hand of God the Father (Hebrews 12:2).

We all experience immovable boundaries and “regulations” which we must keep – we are all humans made of flesh: susceptible to flu viruses, heat, cold, the law of gravity, and requirements for food and sleep. Depending on where we live we are also obligated to follow certain rules: driving on a certain side of the street, stopping or going at different colored lights, or being required to undergo a certain amount of education if we expect gainful employment. (And just so I’m very clear, another restriction is that in our country the legal age to drink alcohol is 21 years old. I don’t care how amazing you think my champagne analogy is, you are absolutely not allowed to drink it before then and that’s the final word on that. Boom.)

While in general we understand that these rules are for our overall benefit, it is also not uncommon to feel that they can seem hampering or restrictive at times. God has uniquely chosen each person’s life and the restrictions for it. His loving, all-wise Father’s eyes saw each of you before you were born (Psalm 139), and He decided ahead of time exactly where He would place you in this world, the special gifts and skills you would bring, and the people you would bless (like me!).

He also chose the things that you find challenging, the areas you might need to work really hard on, and the tough situations which would bewilder you. There are no mistakes in His loving plan for you. He looks at you with deep pride and creative joy as an artisan would look at a masterpiece (Eph 2:10, NLT). So take heart, belovedests. You are in His hand, no matter what sort of rigorous matrix of restrictions you may feel hampered by. And that’s truth.

Grapevines produce best when they have been tied up on wires, pruned somewhat stringently, and have endured the heat and the cold of both sun and storms. Wine is more valuable when it is the genuine article, not tampered with varietals that are inferior or methods that rush to make a quick profit. Our Father’s tender care and great knowledge are in force with each of you – He carefully walks the rows of your life, thoughtfully deciding what and when and how would bring the best harvest for both you and Him. The wise vine is one which joyfully submits to the restrictions – from this joy comes the fruit.

Life often is tough. The stresses and challenges put pressure on us. What are we giving out when we experience the weight and the squeezes that will inevitably come? Bitter angst and complaints, stoic grunts of calloused resistance, or bursts of loving trust and hope?

In champagne making, the first press – that in which the grapes release their juice without breaking the skins – is called the cuvee blanc. It is the most delicately aromatic, the most precious, and the most difficult to preserve because of the lack of tannins (the bitter-tasting acidic chemical that delays spoilage), so it is bottled and enjoyed close to the place it was created. (There is a saying that the best wines never leave France.)

The second press breaks the skins of the grapes, releasing the acidic tannins, and this is the pressing that is used to create the majority of sparkling wine that is created for sale and shipment.

The third press is the most acidic of all, and the least flavorful, and is used largely to mix with other juices to provide the tannins they will need to make a decently-bodied wine. Anything left after this third pressing is discarded or used for composting.

Notice that the first pressing is the most precious and the most fragrant: that which the grapes give up freely, sacrificially, joyfully, is of the highest value and also without bitterness. I pray that when you face the crushing weight of life and when you feel you are in a place where you are stressed and pressured, you turn your faces up to God with hope. I pray that in loving trust of His Father’s heart for you, you freely surrender and give up your thanksgiving and worship in that moment. This is what “the sacrifice of praise” means. “Giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me,” God says (Ps. 50:23, NLT).

The more we resist the challenges and the difficulties with hardened hearts, the more bitterness leaches into our lives, ultimately rendering them undrinkable and worth little to anyone. The worship from your heart given in these moments is like a choice cuvee blanc – it is fragrant, pure, and very precious to our Father.

There will be seasons of your life where you feel you have been firmly and irrevocably stuck in the dark and upside down, for an indeterminate time. Yet you must remember: you are never forgotten or left alone. Each day the Master’s hand is there with you in the dark, turning you, noticing you, and carefully and expertly caring for you.

Sometimes the sediment of our selfish hearts, sinful habits, or the clutter of our daily lives creates a murkiness that needs to be purified so that we can have what our Father longs for us to have: a clear, delightful, focused relationship with Him. This brings a fullness of joy that nothing can steal (Psalm 16:11). Sometimes this focus can only come about by a period of being upside down in the dark.

By submitting to this cleansing process and actively agreeing to surrender the “things that hinder and the sins that entangle” (Heb 12:1) we will be exceptionally joyful ourselves because we will be fulfilling what we were inherently created for – enjoying God and reflecting Him and His glory. Being joyful and patient in the dark is a way of telling God you love Him. It is declaring your trust in Him. It is proclaiming that you agree that He is faithful to complete and bring to perfection the work He began in you (Phil 1:6).

My chickadees, if you could only understand the utter beauty of a life lived in joyful loving surrender and trust to our King! It creates a thing of finest worth and clear brilliance, fully delightful and bubbling with joy. Our lives are not our own, and we are not promised tomorrow. Make the offering of your life one of such extravagant joyful faith in Him that He is utterly delighted and intoxicated by your love, proud and pleased to taste the exquisite vintage you have made with Him.

Here’s to lives of deep joy poured out for our King!

Cheers.

Mom

[1] Many other countries create sparkling wines, but the Champagne region in France has trademarked the appellation “Champagne” so that only wines from this specific region are allowed to use this name.

Masterpieces

(One of a Collection of Letters from Me to My Children)

My Dearest Loves:

Imagine a delicate, graceful and beautifully shaped porcelain pitcher: slender handle arcing like a young tree, elegant details carved around the opening. Picture an exotic lantern made of thinly hammered metal, beams of sparkling light glowing through each intricate, carefully designed aperture in the gleaming metal. Think about a perfectly balanced, exquisitely forged sword, deadly but beautiful, sharpened so well that a piece of silk falling on it would be cut with a sound like a whisper.

Picture anything put together, crafted, built, formed, shaped, or created by an artisan. Would anyone ever exclaim in wonder over the beauty or artistry of that piece and then behave as though the object itself was responsible for getting itself to that state, or applaud the piece and overlook the one who made it? Of course not. It would be ludicrous to even think that the object deserved the credit of the artistry, wisdom, and skill of the artisan. The object is beautiful not because it worked its own loveliness, but because it accomplished its role of being yielding, obedient, and faithful.

Any piece of porcelain clay must be soft and willing to yield and change according to the will and pressure of the hands shaping it. But first, it is kept in the dark in a restrictive container. When it is taken out, it must endure dizzily spinning in place for a time, having cold water thrown on it at any given moment, and be pushed, pummeled, and shaped without regard to feelings. It has no control over the artisan’s possible choice to suddenly squash it all flat and start again. It is gouged and carved until everything inside itself is emptied to make a hollow space available for something else which it does not choose. Any excess is cut away, impressions and borders are pinched and pressed. Designs are stamped, painted onto or cut into its smooth surface without consulting it first.

Then it is placed in a kiln of incredible heat for a time. Should it decide to hop out of the kiln, or manage to turn the knob down on the heat to something far more comfortable, it would render itself far less useful, as it would be untempered and unable to withstand the purpose which the artisan designed it for. If the clay piece grew angry in the fire and refused to endure the heat, cursing the hand that placed it there, disaster would follow: it would shatter.

A piece of metal is heated and reheated also in a restrictive container, any impurities bubbling up patiently scooped out under a watchful eye and careful hand. Once solid, it is heated yet again and pounded and molded between two unyielding surfaces, experiencing both the inevitable thud of the mallet and the immobility of the anvil. If it is to be a weapon, after the heating and melting, waiting in the fire, enduring the blows, it also undergoes the grinding grit of the whetstone and the cold trickle of water for another lengthy time.

If the metal object to be created is a lantern, it endures being stamped and pierced, pieces of itself cut out. It is also bent and formed into a shape it did not choose, hollowed and with an empty space. The strength and usefulness of the metal comes from its lack of impurities and its ability to endure both the heating and the beating. By the metal yielding to the pressing and cutting, the scars where pieces of itself were carved out become the apertures intended to show gleams of light. (Like the song from the group Switchfoot: “The wound is where the light shines through[1].”)

Generally, my lovelies, the finer the quality and more exquisite the beauty of a finished piece correlates to the greater the amount of time invested and the more intense the workmanship put into it. At the conclusion, the craftsman receives the honor of the outcome of his labor. His wisdom and skill are applauded, and his creative genius is admired and found inspiring, his work all the more valuable simply because he was the creator.

In the same way, you each are an incomplete masterpiece in the hand of God. Whatever the Creator has chosen for you to become, He has done so with an eye of flawless taste and a wisdom beyond comprehension. He has chosen for you what will not only bring Him the most glory and honor at your completion, but what will give you the most joy by fulfilling what you were created to be. He is the great Artisan who knows precisely what riches He can bring from the raw material we each start out as. The unique treasure we each will become will not resemble another masterpiece, and there are no repeat works.

There comes a great freedom to my heart in recognizing that there is a Master Craftsman at work, and He is not me. There is a joy and a comfort in the peace of a trusting rest in His hands, knowing:

1. He is actively and creatively working on me. I am in His hands every day as long as I choose to stay there. (Psalms 138:8; Philippians 2:13)

2.) He is excited to make of me something uniquely beautiful and glorious. My part is not to seek that for myself, but to yield to His purpose and design. (Romans 12:1, Romans 8:29) In Proverbs, Wisdom speaks, describing how she rejoiced in God’s skill and presence as He established the earth and created all things (Proverbs 8:30-31). We need to be like Wisdom and also take delight and pour out our worship to God as we observe Him working and refining both ourselves and others.

3.) He has already placed in me the essentials to fulfill the purpose He intends for me. I don’t need to look to anyone or anywhere else to find the fulfillment and meaning I need – only to Him. (Job 23:10, Philippians 1:6)

So guess what, my chickadees? All the hopes and big dreams and desires (large and small) that you have? You can take them all to Him, like a trusting little child pouring out a box of treasures in his daddy’s lap, and ask Him to go through them all with you, knowing He will not laugh or mock you, but will lovingly hold you and them, and talk interestedly with you about them. He made your heart, and He designed you to long for certain things, to hope for specific goals. It’s a sign of your own uniqueness and inherent qualities that He wants to use to shape you into the masterpiece He knows you to be. You can trust Him to hold your dreams and desires for you, and when you ask Him to help you decide which to keep as actual treasures and which aren’t as valuable, you can be sure He will gently guide your heart to making those decisions.

Even better, ask Him to give you more! Ask Him to give you the enormous, exhilaratingly huge dreams and hopes that only He could make real. Ask Him to increase your trust in Him, your understanding of His wisdom and power, and invite Him to take the wheel of your imagination for the wildest, most amazing trip of your life. Our God is the Giver of Dreams! He is the Creator with the hugest imagination ever! He gets giddy with joy over you (Zephaniah 3:17), and His plans for you are unsurpassed in wonder and beauty. “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9)

Our greatest joy and our deepest pleasure in life will come, not from gaining attention, approval, or acclaim from others, but in discovering our greatest purpose: an intimate, loving closeness with the One who created us. And as we grow in the utter satisfaction and fulfillment He gives, we will only continue to grow in our own unique beauty and glory as we become more and more what He in His infinite loving wisdom made each of us to be.

This is the end for which He has created and continues to create us: to hold such an inexpressible joy and delight in God that we are filled up and overflowing with such force and abandon we can’t help but influence this world. He makes us to use us, to illuminate and pour out wherever we are, showing the truth of His glorious, masterful wisdom, knowledge, and the inherent Beauty He is.

My darlings, please remember: what you become is less important than who you become. A people who actively adore and thrill at the nearness of their Creator, showing joy and peace while on the spinning potter’s wheel or enduring the flame and the whetstone, singing to the hammer’s rhythm – Such a people of God would be heart-stoppingly powerful in their faithful, glorious revelation of a God who is worthy of such trust.

You and I are truly the living stones that build up the temple of God, both separately and collectively, chosen to house His Holy Spirit and reveal His character to the world (1 Peter 2:5). When we joyously submit to His working in us, teachable and yielded to His design and plan, we display His fingerprints on our hearts. We show His signature on our lives, declaring we are His and He is ours, joining with the beauty of Creation in asserting God’s mastery and craftsmanship (Psalm 19:1). I think His fingerprints on me are more valuable and beautiful than inlaid diamonds, because it means His hands held me and He formed me, and there is nothing more wonderful and precious than that knowledge.

May you and I remain faithful in the flame, holding on to the hope we have, delighting in the Artisan who delights in us. May you believe the love in His eyes as He looks upon you, and rest with joy in the nail-scarred hands that hold you, knowing you are His precious masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10).

All my love always, Mom

[1] “Where the Light Shines Through”, Where the Light Shines Through. Vanguard Records. July 8, 2016.