Have you ever heard the phrase “aging like fine wine”? Or have you ever been told that you were aging like fine wine? That may have brought a smile to your face! I always thought it was a sweet compliment on one’s beauty, but I have come to realize that there is more depth and power behind these words.
The metaphor, ‘like fine wine’, is popularly used to describe someone who looks physically better with age. But if we reflect deeper, we realize that the phrase can be associated with more than a physical attribute. It also relates to our spiritual journey as we unlock our fine wine, i.e., the greatness or purpose within us. At this point you may be confused but allow me to explain….
Fine wine is a high-quality wine that is made with care from the best grapes. With keen eyes, the wine maker selects firm, plump, well-colored grapes that are firmly attached to the vine. The wine maker knows that the diversity of the grapes, obtained from the conditions (soil, climate) in which they are grown, will give rise to a burst of flavors that differ in complexity, intensity, and individuality. Like the wine maker that picks his grapes with care to make fine wine, we are all uniquely and wonderfully made by God for greatness. We, like the grapes, are all under the species Homo sapiens, but we are all different. Like the diversity of the grapes, no two individuals are the same. There will never be another YOU! You are unique! Sometimes it is the very thing about us that we do not like that is the one thing God made to cause us to stand out. Like the different conditions in which grapes are grown, our personal history, talents, skills, trials, joys, traditions, mindsets etc. all play a part in forming who we are. Just as the grapes are selected with their look and flavor in mind for the desired wine, we were also made as complex and unique individuals for our own greatness, our own purpose.
‘Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you…’ – Jeremiah 1:5 (MSG)
Fine wine is a balanced, well-constructed, complex wine that has matured over time, having more depth in its flavor. The picked grapes are pressed, crushed, allowed to settle, and fermented before undergoing an aging or maturation process. In an oak barrel, the wine sits for months to years, gaining more depth in its flavor. Similarly, as we remain in our oak barrel, i.e., God’s presence, we gain depth and become the best version of ourselves. Our maturation process is a life-long journey that is necessary to allow us to unlock the greatness within us throughout our lives. The ups and downs of life mold us, shape us, refine us, and develop us. They bring forth godly characteristics within us – patience, self-control, gentleness, kindness, and faithfulness etc. We need these characteristics in us to properly steward our greatness, our purpose in life. With greatness comes great responsibility. What if you became a CEO of a pharmaceutical company but failed to develop patience so you made rash, harmful decisions? Would the company succeed? No! It would plummet! Though seemingly small, these characteristics are powerful tools in allowing us to unlock and properly handle the greatness within us. James 1:4 tells us that through perseverance, i.e., patient endurance, in life, even in trying times, it will allow us to properly mature. Just as fine wine undergoes a process of maturing to increase its quality, so to we become the best version of ourselves the longer we remain in His presence and endure the trials of life.
Maturation (n.) – the process of becoming mature; development of individual and behavioral characteristics through growth processes over time.
So, next time you hear the phrase or are told you are aging like fine wine, remember to ask yourself whether you display godly character. Are you persevering in your maturation process? Or are you trying to rush the process and settle for regular wine?
‘The price of greatness is responsibility’
– Winston Churchill