Mhaolain's Child, a Renaissance Thinker in a Post-Modern Culture

The Work of the People

Last Monday, I was privileged to share a meal and an evening with one of my favorite authors, Ian Morgan Cron. His book, Chasing Francis, provides pithy words that capture many of my own thoughts, and his spiritual path runs somewhat parallel to that of my own family's path.

I love the language he uses in Chasing Francis to explain about liturgical worship (page 95), as Cron builds on ideas from another of my favorite authors, Father Alexander Schmemann:

The word liturgy literally means "the work of the people." It's an ancient text that helps us reenact the redemption drama. What we're reciting is a compressed version of the redemption story.  At the end of it, we can't help but be moved to cry out with all the angels and archangels, "Thanks be to God!" and give our lives to the God who gave His life for us.

... Jesus draws very near at the Eucharist [literally, thanksgiving].... But, think of it as a homecoming celebration. In the Eucharist, we're united with God, all the saints, the earth that gave us the bread and wine, and with the whole universe!

... Perhaps you [have] trouble believing you [are] invited to the party....

Living a Focused Life

As a teacher of Rhetoric, I find myself a voracious reader of the writings of men like St. John Chrysostom, so named for his "golden mouth." I've been reading his homilies on the Gospel of St. John; the preface is a piece of literary perfection. Below, I quote a section from his Third Homily in this series. Like so many exhortations from the wise men of epochs past, I'm encouraged by the implied truths as well as the blatant instructions in this speech. For herein Chrysostom doesn't admonish his flock to avoid the theater (and other pass-times); he admonishes his flock to keep them in proper perspective of life, giving the most emphasis to the things of the Lord:

For let no one tell me that our children ought not to be occupied with these things [i.e., the teachings of and about God]; they ought not only to be occupied with them, but to be zealous about them only. And although on account of your infirmity I do not assert this, nor take them away from their worldly learning, just as I do not draw you either from your civil business; yet of these seven days I claim that you dedicate one to the common Lord of us all. For is it not a strange thing that we should bid our domestics slave for us all their time, and ourselves apportion not even a little of our leisure to God; and this too when all our service adds nothing to Him, (for the Godhead is incapable of want,) but turns out to our own advantage? And yet when you take your children into the theaters, you allege neither their mathematical lessons, nor anything of the kind; but if it be required to gain or collect anything spiritual, you call the matter a waste of time. And how shall you not anger God, if you find leisure and assign a season for everything else, and yet think it a troublesome and unseasonable thing for your children to take in hand what relates to Him?

A focused, full life with my priorities in order. That's my goal.

Stain Removal

After a week of travel, my laundry basket is overflowing. It seems that these soiled fabrics are even dirtier than usual as our family worked side by side with Chef Michael Sichel in the kitchen at Tenstone every day. It was hard work keeping up with Sich, but it was so much fun and so educational.

Unfortunately, though, it was also messy to the clothes. But, fortunately, Chef Sich advised us all early on to find our white shirts to wear while cooking, preferably the old-faithful Hanes v-necks, as they clean the most easily.

On this side of the kitchen experience, I'm looking at shirts splashed with red wine, tomato sauce, olive oil, and other unidentifiable miasma. I've soaked some successfully in OxyClean and others in Club Soda. I've scrubbed some with dishwashing liquid and dabbed some with bleach. One shirt I've washed five times to reach success. One I've had to content myself with the fact that the tiny dot from olive oil is permanent. No one but I will ever notice it, but notice it I will.

As I was praying this morning, all this effort relating to stain removal came flooding into my mind as I prayed the words from the morning prayer, "Lord, cleanse us from every stain." Every stain.... from any fabric of life.... caused by any spill of life.... with no spot left behind.

"Cleanse me from every (stain) ... and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow" (Psalm 51). No soaking or scrubbing required.

Food, Glorious Food, from the kitchen of Chef Michael Sichel

photo by Randy Elrod

One evening about 2 months ago, my telephone rang, which is not so surprising. What was surprising was that the caller was a man for whom we had been searching -- Chef Michael Sichel. We spent some time catching up about his return to New Orleans to spend more time with his sweetheart. He talked with me, then talked with my hubby. At the close of their conversation, David had the brilliant idea to invite Michael to take some vacation time and join us in Napa for Kalein's Napa Leadership Retreat. After contemplating the idea for a couple of days, Chef Michael threw his hat in with us, and an already mind-boggling retreat went "over the top."

Before our departure for Napa, Chef and I coordinated menus and shopping lists. He called ahead to arrange store credit with Cal-Mart, one of the most beautiful grocery stores I've ever set foot in. From the moment Michael reached the Napa County border, he had all the retreat participants in the palm of his very authoritative hand. He came in the kitchen door of Tenstone Estate with bag after bag of fresh produce and meats. After depositing the food stuffs, he unpacked his personal chef's knives and tools (yep, he brought his own tools from NOLA to Napa!) On Sunday, as Randy Elrod introduced the group to the concepts of Kalein, Chef Michael introduced us to the joy of his cooking. His first offering was a hearty ham-laced split pea soup followed by melt-in-your-mouth grilled pork tenderloins. The first meal of the retreat reached nirvana -- how could he top that opening salvo? But top it, or at least match it, he did.

On Monday, Chef Sich packed us a picnic lunch to share with the wonderful folks at Hendry Ranch: baby back ribs, Chef's potato salad, pickled cucumbers, watermelon. Perfection. At dinner, we welcomed Mike and Molly Hendry to Tenstone, and Chef Sich served up Coq au Vin to pair with Hendry Primitivo and Pinot Noir. Molly and I are still emailing each other about that great dinner.

Tuesday provided us the opportunity for another picnic, this time in the garden of Ma(i)sonry in Yountville. Ma(i)sonry is set in a house built by an Italian immigrant in the late 1800s, so it was appropriate that Chef Sich sent us a Mediterranean feast of Grilled tuna salad, tahini, hummus, tabouli, and accompaniments. Lunch, as fabulous as it was, served as a warm up for Tuesday's dinner: roasted leg and racks of lamb!

During the course of the week, he supervised the production of individual homemade pizzas. He served foie gras and jelly sandwiches (just try it!) and cooked up grilled tenderloin sandwiches on the private porch at Miner Family Wines. One evening Ehren Jordan, his wife Anne Marie Failla, Shane and Suzanne Phifer-Pavitt came to dinner bearing bottles of Turley Zinfandel (for which Ehren won all sorts of recognition), Failla Pinot Noir, and Phifer Pavitt's Date Night Cabernet. In their honor, Chef Sich served up homemade gnocchi with all sorts of trimmings alongside steamed mussels and clams. Phenomenal!

His capstone of the week came on Thursday evening when Dave and Emily Miner came to dinner. They brought bottles of their own delicious Gary's Vineyard Pinot Noir and their fabulous Oracle. Chef prepared his justly famous braised short ribs with risotta. Emily Miner remembered Sich from his tenure in the kitchen at Auberge du Soleil and repeatedly commented how great it would be for Sich to return to Napa Valley. Well, great for Napa, that is.

Unfortunatedly, as the old saying goes, all good things must come to an end, and Sich returned to NOLA while all the NLR participants went to their own homes. However, rest assured, I have Chef's twitter address (@SichServes), I have his email address, and I have his cell number. He won't be missing from our circle again.

Hmm, how about some lobster risotta tonight, a la Chef Sich?

Patiently Waiting for Perfection at Kalein

During our time last week in Napa Valley, we enjoyed intimate moments with some of the finest winemakers of the world. We also enjoyed the opportunity to sip and savor the products of their labors. From Chateau Montelena's crisp chardonnays to Coral Brown's spicy zinfandels to Suzanne Phifer Pavitt's phenomenal Date Night Cabernet Sauvignon, we marveled that such a variety of flavor and feel sensations could come from such little grapes.

While we were visiting, the harvesting of the 2009 crop kicked in. Painstakingly, lovingly, these uber-farmers coaxed their plants into producing their most gorgeous and lush nectar. In addition to harvesting this year's crop, many winemakers were bottling the wine crushed in previous years that they had aging in their barrels in the cool cellars. Finally, during this season, the wine producers also are releasing wines that had already been resting in their bottles. On Tuesday afternoon, we tasted the mouth-rocking Cabernet Sauvignon's produced by winemaker Tim Dolven of Steltzner Vineyards. We sipped a bit of the 2006 newly-released wine; we sipped the 2005; then, the 2004. Each year backwards led to deeper, richer, lusher flavors and aromas. The experience at Steltzner revealed clearly the importance of providing the perfect environment for a new wine, full of potential, to mature into a great wine. While these young vintages are delicious now, they will be ambrosial after ten years of careful maturing under considerate conditions.

On Thursday afternoon, Chef Michael Sichel introduced us to his good friends at ZD Wines. Chef Michael cooked many meals for the De Leuze family when he lived in Napa Valley. Later, he served the range of ZD wines in his New Orleans restaurant. As we finished our visit in the back of the cellars, Brett de Leuze honored Chef Michael and us by opening a bottle of ZD's ultimate wine, The Abacus. Each year when a new vintage of Abacus is created, it is made by combining the Cabernet Sauvignon Reserves from the past into one incomparable new wine. As such, the Abacus takes the best of the best of each year, the richest most mature wine, and creates an exquisite new wine. This year is the 11th year of Abacus, and it contains the Reserve Cabernets from 17 previous years. It was the single best glass of wine I've ever tasted.

The Steltzner experience and the experience at ZD, particularly with the Abacus, caused me to ponder the parallel between these winemakers, cellar masters, and all those who have a hand in bringing a young wine to its fullness with the experience of Kalein itself. For at Kalein under Randy Elrod's mentoring, many artists, young and old, often in difficult circumstances, find a mentor who will guide them to a place of fullness, to a path that leads to artistic maturity and productivity. I guess it's only appropriate that in such a beautiful place as Napa Valley we clearly heard Beauty Calling. We clearly experienced the fullness of Kalein.

Life Lessons from the Hendry Vineyard: Kalein's Napa Leadership Retreat

Hendry chardonnay grapes ready to crush.

I am a raving fan of Hendry Ranch Wines and their producer, Mike Hendry. Mike reminds me of my brother. He's an unassuming farmer who loves his land, his produce, and his final product. He works hard at his craft, and it shows in his wines. Never, ever hesitate to purchase a Hendry wine. Chill the whites; let the reds breath in a decanter; enjoy every drop.

Every time I visit with Mike at his ranch in Napa, he reminds me of all that I don't yet understand fully about the Scriptures though he never quotes a verse. Last year when I visited with him in May, he was pruning with diligence vines that looked perfectly beautiful. Yet those beautiful vines sapped energy from the vines that were destined to be the best fruit-bearing vines. It was a profound moment for me to understand that not all vines should be allowed to grow.

Last May, they were grafting new plants into the deeply established roots, too. It was a beautiful picture of the importance of being grafted into the True Vine. You can look around Mike's fields today and see plants that weren't grafted into healthy roots that now have withered and died.

This year our visit coincided with the end of the growing season and the beginning of harvest. Once again Mike voiced profound, thought-provoking comments relating to vines and branches, fruit and harvest, grafting and pruning. Not only does Mike need to prune away beautiful branches that might sap the life from the productive vines, but he also must clip away gorgeous clusters of beautiful fruit in order that the chosen fruit for each vine will mature to the optimum sweetness and size. I couldn't help but think of all the tasks that we are often asked to fulfill, and so many of them are just perfect for our talents and abilities. But the True Vineyard Keeper knows how to make us produce the ultimate fruit, and He, like Mike, often snips away opportunities for service that would take away from the points of service that should be our true focus. It was hard to walk through the vineyards of Napa Valley and see what could have been beautiful fruit littering the ground. But I trust the winemakers whose product I love. If I trust them and their focus, how much more will I trust My Master to help me focus on the perfect fruit He wants me to bear.

Another precept I gleaned from Mike relates to planting the grapevine. As we noted all the fruit that littered the ground, we asked Mike if the seeds in those fruits might sprout into new grapevines. Mike answered that you can plant a grape seed, but you won't necessarily get a Chardonnay plant. True Chardonnay (and other varietals) only come by being grown from the True Vine and grafted into the Perfect Root.

A third life lesson I picked up in the vineyard last week came during Mike's comments about the lack of water that the plants in Napa face. He observed that the vines that produce the best fruit are the ones that overcome the most stress: pests, lack of water, weeds. He concluded by telling us, "Too happy is not good."

Hmm. Seems like I've read that before.
I am the vine; you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. John 15:5.

What do Darioush, Dave Miner, Bistro Jeanty, & Dr. David Kemp Have in Common: Creating Raving Fans

Ancient Waving Fans/Current Raving Fans

Last Friday at Kalein’s Napa Leadership Retreat was packed full of beautiful people, beautiful scenery, and beautiful food. Our first event found us in the cellars of a recreation of the majestic Temple of Persepolis, also known as Darioush Winery. On our previous visits, we’ve been privileged to private tastings clustered in front of the massive fireplace whose lintel is upheld by statues of ancient Persian kings. Gorgeous, particularly for this lover of art and history. This visit, however, we were welcomed into the cellars of Darioush to their private tasting library. The candlelit passageway, lined with barrels of aging wine, beckoned us to the beautiful setting for this session. There we learned the principles of leadership that Darioush Khaledi and his ancestors have employed for hundreds of years,  in California but more historically in their homeland of Shiraz in Persia (Iran).  In spite of political and religious persecutions, the Khaledi family found safe haven in their adopted homeland of California, where they worked to develop a thriving chain of grocery stores. Darioush Khaledi invested these successes in farmland, and once again his family began to produce some of the finest wines, this time in Napa Valley. His Duel wine is so named to represent the struggle between two seemingly opposing forces, yet the very struggle of these forces, the bull and the lion, brings balance and offers protection to the people of his nation. I love the wines produced by Darioush winery, and our visit exceeded my expectations of their hospitality.

We left the historic setting of Darioush winery for the family-owned Miner Family Vineryards. Dave and Emily Miner were our guests at Tenstone on Thursday evening, sharing in the bounteous table set by Chef Michael Sichel. After dinner, Dave joined John Scott Evans, a talented jazz guitarist from Los Angeles, to regale our group with a jazz concert in the great room of Tenstone. On Friday, Dave had set aside his afternoon to take us to his own cave for a private tasting of the Miner family’s delicious wines. Before we entered the caves, however, he shared the facility’s private third-floor terrace where Chef Michael grilled steaks for the ultimate sandwiches. Dave provided us with an incomparable setting overlooking the lush Napa Valley floor while Chef Michael served up more great food, accompanied by the Miners’ delicious wines. After the tasting, Dave and John Scott once again picked up their guitars for an acoustic set in the cellar cave. I get goosebumps just remembering the beauty of the music, the candlelight, the fragrance of the cellaring wine – a true Kalein moment, for beauty indeed was calling. Again, the event exceeded all my expectations.

The culmination of our Friday found us at Bistro Jeanty for our only restaurant meal of the week. The staff at Bistro Jeanty had proven so accommodating to me as I’d worked for months to arrange restaurant reservations for 16 people. Remembering our previous visits to Bistro Jeanty, I chose a 3-course dinner that offered all the diners a selection from 3 offerings each course. Most people chose Jeanty’s amazing Tomato Soup, served in a puff pastry shell while a few chose his onion tarte. For the main course, our group chose from sea scallops, steak au poivre, or Daube de Bouef (grandmother’s beef roast). Finally, we chose desserts: crepe Suzette, lemon meringue tarte, or chocolate mousse crème brulee. All these fabulous dishes were paired with wines from Dave Miner’s cellar: Wild Yeast Chardonnay, Gary’s Vineyard Pinot Noir, and his capstone, The Oracle. Our server, Kathy, greeted our group with a smile. She never rushed us, and every request was promptly fulfilled. Yet again, my expectations for the dinner were exceeded.

The guest speaker for Friday at the leadership retreat was Dr. David Kemp. Dr. Kemp has built a thriving orthodontic practice in Franklin and Brentwood, Tennessee by building on two concepts. The first one is millennia old: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, or, Love your neighbor as yourself.  After years of writing his own handbooks and conference messages, Dr. Kemp finally found a book that encapsulates his beliefs for building a successful business and growing fruitful relationships in Raving Fans by Ken Blanchard. In this work, Blanchard sets out principles that teach business people not only to develop customers but also to cause these customers to be repeat customers who will bring their friends in to your business. As I reflected on Friday’s events, I realized how perfectly timed Dr. Kemp’s session fell in the week because I am a Raving Fan of Darioush, Dave Miner, and Bistro Jeanty (not to mention Dr. Kemp, who is my own orthodontist as well as my husband). The owners and managers of each of these establishments went out of their way to exceed the expectations of their loyal customer. I am also a Raving Fan of Mike Hendry of Hendry Ranch Wines for the same reason.

When I begin to coordinate the next Kalein Leadership Retreat, I will remember the places who have made me a Raving Fan. I will bring more fans into their halls, trusting that once again they will exceed all my expectations.

The Voice from Behind: Kalein's Keynote Message from Dan Perkins

Last week's inaugural Kalein Napa Leadership Retreat found its participants catapulted over the top of all our expectations. From the retreat's setting at the magnificent Tenstone Estate in Calistoga to our private visits with Napa Valley's premier winemakers to the inspirational words of encouragement from all the speakers -- I could go on and on -- this retreat's impact on my role as a leader in my own circle of influence will last forever. How fitting, therefore, that Saturday's message of encouragement should be the pinnacle.

Dan Perkins, pastor of Twin Oaks Church in San Jose, California, and his beautiful, bubbly wife Joy joined the Retreat for its final full day. It began, as all the other days began, with the summoning aromas from the kitchen as Chef Patricia Martinez created culinary magic for our breakfasts. These sacramental offerings were enjoyed on the porch alongside a rose garden that is home to finches, jays, hummingbirds, and more birds than we could give name to. From that spot we watched the sun's climb into the sky, causing shadows to play on the surrounding hillsides and vineyards. We were loathe to leave that spot even though our special visit on that final day was to the award-winning, world-of-wine-changing Chateau Montelena, a winery just a stone's throw from Tenstone. 

At Chateau Montelena, our group was welcomed into the heart of the historic chateau, built in 1882. Not only did we sip some of the chateau's magnificent wines, but we sipped them in the luxurious surroundings of the Private Estate Room, hung with antique tapestries to cover the hand-hewn stone walls and opened by Gothic-styled stained glass windows. A magnificent setting for some magnificent wines. Just when we thought we had reached the top of the experience, Remi Barrett, daughter of Bo Barrett, joined us for a daughter's perspective of the movie Bottle Shock. Given that both her parents are famous winemakers (her mother is Heidi Peterson Barrett, THE first lady of winemaking), Remi's delightful conversations offered us a cheerful look inside this noteworthy yet normal family.

Back home at Tenstone, we enjoyed homemade tamales, fresh from Chef Patty's kitchen. We lingered over them outside, chatting, visiting, sharing. Finally, the time came for the final NLR message, words from Dan Perkins. And what a culminating message it was.

Just a week before, Dan had participated in the Louisville, Kentucky IronMan Triathlon, so he began his message with a story from his experience in that grueling event. He shared the importance of the fans' cheers of encouragement along the path: "You can do it, Dan." "You're looking good, Dan." "Go, Dan, go." He then segued into his realization these past few years that the best leaders are not those who grab the reins and forge ahead, towing his/her followers along in the wake. No, the best leaders are those whose voices come from behind the novices, the workers, the followers. They are the ones who stand in support behind, whispering words of encouragement and instruction (if needed) so that those followers are enabled to grow in their own unique abilities.

Several weeks ago, I wrote about catapulting my young friends, particularly my students, into their adult lives. I get Dan's message about the Voice from Behind. Climb up on my shoulders; you can do it. And when you land, I'll be there to help you to your finish line. You can do it.

Neal Montgomery: Abstract Paths of Color and Texture

Last night I met up-and-coming young artist Neal Montgomery. Montgomery, a Tennessean by birth, discovered his love of expressing himself through drawing before he learned to write words. After considering a career in graphic arts, he abandoned himself to the pursuit of freeing the pictures that live in his mind. He prefers to create using oils on a variety of surfaces but most usually on wood or canvas. I love his current pursuit of linear pattern. As a straight-line person myself, I find his work reveals the beauty of pattern that explodes in colors and textures.

Neal's work makes me think of paths and pursuits. As a middle-aged person now, I'm increasingly mindful of the brevity of my earthly path. I want my path to be as focused as Neal's paths. I also want my path to be as colorful as his works. I want my path to reflect the creativity of our Creator and to encourage those whose paths cross my own to enjoy our piece of the pie of life.

Thanks, Neal, for giving visual expression to the words of my heart. Paint on!

Kalein's Napa Leadership Retreat: the Countdown Begins

I've been spending a lot of my free time these past several months helping my friends and family with their own genealogy projects. I love the chase through history for these elusive forefathers (and mothers). I often find that I'm spending more time on this hobby than on my "day" job. My family laughs about all the dinners I've burned while following the trail of those family members long-since gone.  But one of the projects I've been organizing and producing at work is about to come to life, and I'm counting the days until all my careful plans take flesh.
About a year ago while participating in a Kalein retreat with Randy and Chris Elrod, I approached them with one of my ideas. Randy is an extraordinary artist -- a watercolorist, a singer, a poet, a chef -- a Renaissance man. He left his own "day" job several years ago to follow his and Chris's dream of mentoring young creative minds so that they can achieve their own creative vocations, many of these vocations having a Christian foundation and worldview. Chris is the penultimate business woman, managing her own real estate business to success even during the economic downturn. The majority of Randy's mentoring sessions take place at Round Cove Lodge in Tennessee and their major conference, Cre:ate, as well as their Lifework 2.0 seminars, take place here in Franklin, Tennessee. However, Randy sometimes takes advantage of his connections with artists and mentors across the globe and schedules retreats in varied places. These ideas came together in my ever-cogitating mind to suggest a mentoring retreat like no other.
As such, next week will see the first annual Kalein Napa Leadership Retreat, at which Randy and several of Napa Valley's premier winemakers, along with some of Tennessee's own noteworthy leaders, will share their motivations with a select group of participants. The setting is the Tenstone Estate in Calistoga, California. The speakers, in addition to Randy, include Nordeck Thompson, Dr. David Kemp, Chef Michael Sichel, and Dan Perkins. The group also will participate in on-site discussions with winemakers like Mike Hendry at Hendry Ranch, Dave Miner at Miner Wines, Anne-Marie Failla and Ehren Jordan at Failla Wines, and Tim Dolven at Steltzner Vineyards, all of whom will join the group for dinners at Tenstone featuring Chef Michael Sichel's culinary genius. Additionally, the group will be led on behind-the-scenes tours at ZD, Darioush, and Jarvis, as well as a private picnic tasting of boutique wines like Coral Brown's fabulous Zinfandel at Ma(i)sonry in Yountville.
Kalein and Rhonda Kemp & Associates is already developing a waiting list of participants for the 2010 Napa Leadership Retreat. The maximum number of participants is 18, so let us know as early as possible if you'd like to participate next year.
Yep, I'm gonna be living firmly grounded in the present these next couple of weeks, and I'm sure the ancestors are smiling.