The Time We Hid Wine in the Kitchen Cupboards

We were gathered on the floor of Felena’s living room, ready for one of our very first gatherings. We had invited a local Imam who had driven all the way from Temecula to share about the muslim faith with us.

Normally, a GodLuck dinner is super casual with a glass of wine, a homemade potluck, and very easy conversation. But just as the evening was starting, it hit us: drinking alcohol his presence might be disrespectful.

It was a total "rookie" moment in our journey of radical curiosity. We all scurried over to the kitchen and hid away our glasses in the kitchen cupboards while he was with us.

The wine was gone, but the spirit was there.

Sitting on that floor, without our usual social lubrication, the architecture of the conversation flowed easily. In fact, it was our largest gathering filled with curiosity, joy and respectful conversations. We realized that moving the needle on global peace isn’t always about big fancy gestures; sometimes it’s about a small, respectful choices to make someone else’s world feel safe and honored.

That night we learned to double check traditions and customs prior to our dinners.