Grape Juice

My eyes were opened wide to what goes on behind the scenes when I was 11 years old. My mom played the piano and organ in our church - kind of that 'old time religion' sound. Some Saturday's or early Sunday mornings I'd go along to church early with her for her practice.

One particular Sunday morning I went with my mom to church early because she had to practice with the soloist. I was dinging around by the organ while mom was practicing, and happened to look through a door to the back of the sanctuary. What I saw would forever change my thinking.

Mrs. Jack, Mrs. McKibbin, Mrs. Shorty, and Mrs. Hammond were all there at a table. Sunday -best dresses on. Hair in buns. Sensible shoes. Great big purses. But it was what they were doing that really caught my eye.

There were filling the communion glasses with - grape juice.

Well, my mind started going in about a million directions. I thought Communion was supposed to be really holy and sanctified and really special. I thought that they really meant it when the pastor would say if you have sin in your heart you shouldn't take communion. (as if some kid is going to really do that and announce to the world that he really IS a sinner!) I thought this was the Lord's Supper. Surely, the Lord wouldn't be using 'grape juice'.

Now granted, this was your top of the line grape juice, but still. The very thought of using plain, ordinary grape juice just killed the whole thing for me. Sure, I'd been taking communion since I was saved at 8 years old; and yes, it had always tasted a little bit like grape juice; but there's no way it really was; was it?

I thought it was some sort of holy liquid, direct from God, to this little Evangelical Presbyterian church. I never once thought that the good and holy people of this church would try to fool people by using every day grape juice.

My Catholic friends drank real wine during their communion. And according to my friend Johnny, that wine actually turned into Jesus real blood inside your body. How gross was that? No wonder they used real wine. That must take a pretty good wallop to get that done.

It took a long time for me to get communion straight and that we're not crucifying Jesus again and again. We're renewing our mind and spirit in commemoration. A celebration that we're saved by grace, not what we drink during communion.

But to this day, I can't help thinking - I wonder if they use grape juice in Heaven? Or do they even do communion in Heaven? And if so, is my mom (who died several years ago) helping to fill the little cups for Jesus? Or do they just take a pill? I wonder.