JUST MUSING BASELINES
– SONG, November 22, 2025
After Hup left the restaurant, he watched as Connie got into the driver’s side of the car. Bill sat on the passenger’s side, slunk down. Hup suspected he went to the Wild Side Bar and Lounge which was across the street, with its blaring neon sign beckoning all comers to come party. Still, Hup didn’t assume Bill went there after leaving them. Then again, he couldn’t rule it out. Regardless, Hup thought, the north wind had come into the garden and carried Bill away. Hup didn’t take it as a verdict on the man’s soul. He knew the difference between condemnation and the Father’s fierce, loving chastening — God works even drunkenness and hardship into the good He promised. Sanctification, after all, is a glorious learning curve that all God’s elect shall ascend.
As for those who shared in their communion in Walter’s most fragrant and lovely nursery garden, that celebration would stay with him always. When Bill was gone, the south wind returned, gentle and strong. During the communion, Hup asked each person to share how Christ’s love is both like the best wine on earth and yet infinitely better. Hup asked because Spurgeon preached a sermon on the ill effects of earthly wine, where Christ’s love brought healing and recovery. With that, he smiled, took a breath, and said he’d go first.
“You know how I’ve asked you to pray for me given the weakness I’ve had in my legs and feet, especially the last six months.”
“Yes,” Connie and Diane said in unison.
“What’s going on?” Ron asked.
“Well, over the last twenty five years, I’ve consumed a fair amount of wine. My doctor told me today that my drinking caused it.
“Everyone in the group pressed in closer to hear more.
“So – what are you going to do? Quit drinking?” Ron asked.
“No, but doc told me to cut back…” Hup explained.
“Is it reversible?” Connie asked Cordia.
“No, what’s done is done,” Cordia answered.
“I’m sorry,” Diane said.
“Thank you, but don’t be. I did the drinking, and I praise God that he set the parameters that limited what response to neurotherapy, not diabetes or a brain tumor. Hup paused for a moment, lowered his head and smiled “I am embarrassed though. I started drinking wine a long ago – in a different life, with a different wife, and I was no where close then in my walk with the Lord.”
“But that was then, and this is now. We both enjoy a glass of wine,” Cordia said and smiled. “We are good with it, though some will make it out to be a consequence of sin.”
“Deacon Jones and Wilders?” Walter asked.
“Yes, but I brought this up because you needed to know – you’ve been praying for me – that, and like I said, my diagnosis could’ve been worse. I can live with this, but I’ll also cut down on the wine. As for Christ’s love? I want so much more, and I know there will be no ill-effect. I just praise God that his Son is here with us… here in this garden… Holy Spirit moving, north and south.”
“Let the spices flow,” Walter said and laughed. “I just wonder though if you don’t feel slightly peppered.”
“You’re a funny man, Walter.”
