I heard something different in church recently.
I recommend the Cherry Raspberry Ale, by the way…. you can tell I’m definitely comfortable with my manliness that I can recommend that while wearing a pink shirt.
- Pastor Phil Taylor, Terra Nova Church
Drinking is, by far, the least mentioned – in evangelical church culture – among all of Christ’s non-biologically mandatory activities. As if not mentioning it will feel more comfortable. As if Tolkien and Lewis aren’t tiltin’ back a St. Thomas Pale Ale together at this very moment.
Tilt one back with me, Dog.
- Dwarven Demolition Squad, Warcraft 2
So as I tried the ale on one of my pastors’ recommendations (man, I love saying that!) I thought to myself… self… different is good. And you don’t have to know me long to know I tend toward difference. [*yawn* this is two narcissistic posts in three days] I prefer to err on the side of action, rather than inaction… to err on the side of words, rather than silence (a decidedly unpopular stance in modern Christian culture). But that makes me different… and I’m cool with that.
Anything different is good.
- Bill Murray, Groundhog Day
There are a paltry, yet non-zero, number of exceptions to different being good… like if you just won a marathon you probably don’t want anything different right then… or if you just dodged a bullet… or if you just had a healthy baby. However, in the mundane world of the daily slave-ballet there’s more than enough room for some spice… a little something something.
Bam! Kick it up a notch!
- Emeril Lagasse
My spice comes despite myself. For instance… some people associate salt and pepper… I associate salt and vinegar. Some think of bread and cheese (or water or wine), where I’m more bread and circuses. Some associate ale and pubs… I think of ale and wenches (too many Elizabethan movies). I’ve never deliberately espoused nonconformity… it just wouldn’t feel right any other way.
…Because Allah loves wondrous variety.
- Morgan Freeman, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
Life is too short to bow to the expectations of others. Life is too short not to be different.