Wine as a "Splendid Symbol"

[qos]

Unfermented grape juice is a bland and pleasant drink ... [but] it is a ghastly symbol of the life blood of Jesus Christ, especially when served in individual antiseptic, thimble-sized glasses. Wine is booze, which means it is dangerous and drunk-making. It makes the timid brave and the reserved amorous. It loosens the tongue and breaks the ice especially when served in a loving cup. It kills germs. As symbols go, it is a rather splendid one.

-- Frederick Buechner, Wishful Thinking, 1971

Comments

[elevengirl.livejournal.com]

What a lovely surprise...thank you! Wishful Thinking is one of my all-time favorite books, and Buechner a favorite author.