The Zen of Red Wine

Just by chance today, 2 days before the 100 day challenge begins, I am attending a one day retreat at my Buddhist temple. I decided to attend the retreat a few months before I decided to enroll in the 100 day challenge. Red wine and Buddha have been duking it out for a while and recently they began to embrace the idea of co-existing. When I first became a Buddhist I took the 5 Precepts. The 5 Precepts are 5 things you promise to do and among them is "not to take intoxicants". The first time anyone ever told me about this precept they followed it by the disclaimer designed for modern day, American Buddhists... "That doesn't mean you cannot drink, it means you cannot drink to the point of intoxication". Fifteen years ago that little loop hole allowed me to see the possibility and I bowed obediently in front of the Buddha and the monks at my temple and took the 5 precepts. A few months ago I felt an intense desire to re-commit myself to the precepts. In looking back I realized I had translated that loophole into "You can drink" and left it at that not respecting the true purpose and meaning of it. Part of my 100 day challenge is about honoring my precept and re-evaluating and designing my life to accommodate that. I'm not sure of exactly what it will look like but I think my retreat today will perhaps shed a little light on it for me.