________________________________________
Preface: Okay, okay… I cannot presume to know what God likes, dislikes or is indifferent to, but I’d like to think He enjoyed a nut brown ale on the 7th day when He rested.
Something happens when guys get together, especially when they have to risk their life to get there… Nothing like the possibility of death to bring an group of dudes even closer. You’d assume that I’m talking about some crazy adventure I was apart of, maybe climbing Mount Everest or rafting the Upper Animas in Class V rapids.
But, actually I’m talking about my bachelor party, which was held at Peace Tree Brewery in Knoxville, Iowa. Amidst a brutal 6-8 inches snowfall, which made the roads treacherous and and the travel slow moving. Regardless, guys streamed in from all over the country – Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Washington D.C., Iowa, Colorado, and California. Careening their cars on slippery roads using the guardrails as bumpers, to share an evening and a brew with their mates.
Now, it’s not what you think. In fact, I could cite our bartender for the civility of the night – she said:
Wow, what a compliment! This speaks to the quality of men in attendance that night, who enjoyed their barley and hops, with modesty and temperance in line with G.K. Chesterton’s thoughts on the subject, who once said that “the proper form of thanks to it [the Creator] is some form of humility and restraint: we should thank God for beer and Burgundy by not drinking too much of them.”1
What a juxtaposition!? That God could be in a night that centered around celebrating the end of my bachelorhood by drinking beer and sharing stories!! Why is it that this is such a taboo statement?
I guess it’s because, it’s so surprising to see a bachelor party that was so tame and dignified? As we’re accustomed to seeing drunken beerfests and nights of debauchery that we would soon forget as our models for bachelor parties and guy’s night out. Rarely, I suppose, is this juxtaposed by a night of temperance and restraint, enjoyment and encouragement. I, for one, am glad that we could spend an evening together, slapping each other on the back whilst sipping on some fine bitter.
To me it was a picture of heaven – a glimpse of the marriage supper of the lamb – where Jesus will pop a top of some vintage vino, and we will all share in the celebration of the consummation of our relationship as the bride of Christ, by consuming the fruit of the vine, and enjoying the company of our friends and family.
Thanks guys for such a memorable night! And below are some pics from Don Hogan, enjoy!
_______________________________________________________
1. G.K. Chesterton; “Orthodoxy”; p. 91-92
