Write Drunk, Edit Sober: Reflections on Wine, Wonder, and Living a Full Life (with Jesus and a Side of Laughter)
There’s a famous saying—some attribute it to Hemingway, others to the kind of uncle who brings a guitar to every family function and plays “Wonderwall”—but the quote goes something like this:
“Write drunk. Edit sober.”
Now before we get any religious folks shifting in their seats, take a breath. Because this isn’t about losing control—it’s about tapping into the raw, unfiltered joy and weirdness of life.
And to be honest, that quote makes a lot more sense now that we have ChatGPT. Because with AI, you can basically do both at the same time. You write like a lunatic—scatterbrained, creative, deeply philosophical and highly caffeinated—and then you let this beautiful, benevolent machine clean it up so you sound halfway employable.
But here’s the real kicker.
In all this writing, thinking, living, reflecting—whether it's done with wine, water, or something in between—there's one thing I keep coming back to:
Life is meant to be lived. Like really lived. Like “water-into-wine” kind of lived.
Let Me Explain
Jesus didn’t make His first miracle a blind-healing or leper-cleansing or walk-on-water kind of miracle. No. He went to a wedding.
And He made wine.
Let that sit for a second.
John 2 tells the story. The wine ran out. Everyone freaked out. Jesus’ mom gave Him the look (you know the one). And what did He do?
He turned water into wine.
Not just any wine. The good stuff. Better than what they served first.
So, if Jesus’ first miracle involved keeping the party going—maybe we need to rethink our view of the Christian life. Maybe He’s not as stiff-collared and beige-cardiganed as we sometimes make Him out to be.
Maybe Jesus likes a good laugh. A good celebration. Maybe He’s the kind of Savior who throws His head back and laughs so hard He snorts. The kind who’s serious about holiness… but also deeply committed to joy.
Maybe, just maybe, He came to give us a life that's more full, more fun, and more free than we ever imagined.
“I Have Come That They May Have Life”
Let’s take a quick tour to John 10:10.
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
Now, in the Greek, that word “full” is perissos—which literally means superabundant, overflowing, excessive, beyond measure.
In today’s terms? Too much. And not in a bad way.
Life with Jesus isn’t a boring potluck in a church basement with lukewarm jello salad. It’s a feast. It’s a wedding celebration. It’s wine from water. It’s laughing until your stomach hurts. It’s meaningful, ridiculous, holy, and wild—all at once.
Life with Jesus is supposed to be extra.
So why are so many of us living like we’re just trying to survive the week?
It’s time to throw off the wet-blanket version of Christianity and embrace the absurd, beautiful, heart-pounding truth: we were made for joy.
Not surface-level smiles. Not performative religion.
Real, raw, full-bodied joy.
Faith Isn’t Supposed to Feel Like Filing Taxes
Let’s be honest. Somewhere along the line, we got the idea that faith meant frowning in sepia tone.
We turned Jesus from a joyful Savior into a stoic sage with resting Messiah face.
But if Jesus really is who He says He is—the God who laughed, wept, dined, danced, and turned ordinary water into top-shelf wine—then why are we acting like joy is suspicious?
Imagine this:
Jesus at the wedding in Cana. He looks at the empty jugs. Raises an eyebrow. “This is going to blow their minds.” Boom. Cab Sauv in clay pots. The party erupts. High-fives all around. Maybe even a few ancient Hebrew karaoke attempts.
Don’t tell me He wasn’t laughing. Don’t tell me He didn’t enjoy the moment.
The point is—Jesus didn’t just endure life. He embraced it.
And so should we.
Life Is Hilarious (If You’re Paying Attention)
Let’s talk about how weird and wonderful life really is.
Have you ever tried to chase a dog wearing socks on a hardwood floor? Have you ever left your mic on in a Zoom call only to yell at your kids in front of your boss? Have you ever poured orange juice into your cereal by accident and still tried to convince yourself it might be good?
Life is strange.
And if we’re not laughing, we’re missing half the beauty of it.
Ecclesiastes 3 says:
“There is a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.”
We’ve done enough weeping. We’ve done enough mourning.
It’s time to laugh and dance and throw our heads back and live like we believe God actually enjoys us.
Three Ways to Live a Full Life (Without Losing Your Mind or Faith)
Let’s break this down. You want to live fully? Not just exist, but really live?
Here are three ways to supersize your joy, your faith, and your sense of humor.
1. Invite Jesus to the Party
This one’s simple: wherever you are—bring Jesus in.
Not in a religious, stuffy way. Not like you’re trying to impress Him with how pure your Spotify playlist is.
Just… invite Him.
If you’re on a walk, talk to Him. If you’re laughing with friends, thank Him for the moment. If you’re at a dinner, toast Him with a smile.
He’s not a buzzkill. He’s the Creator of joy. The Master of feasts. The One who turned the ordinary into the extraordinary.
Psalm 16:11 says:
“In your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
Not guilt. Not fear. Joy.
Jesus isn’t a spectator in your life. He’s the life of the party.
Let Him in. He already brought the wine.
2. Don’t Edit the Real You
Remember the “Write drunk, edit sober” rule? Well, here's the thing:
Stop editing yourself out of your own life.
Stop dialing yourself down to fit in. Stop filtering your soul like a poorly-lit Instagram post. Stop trying to be beige when God made you full color.
You’re quirky? Praise God. You’re loud? Hallelujah. You cry in commercials? Me too.
You were made in His image—not to mimic the crowd, but to mirror the Creator.
Ephesians 2:10 calls you a masterpiece—not a mistake.
So live like it.
Eat the donut. Laugh at the joke. Wear the shirt with flamingos on it. Be who God wired you to be and don’t apologize.
3. Say “Yes” to More Than You Say “No”
Now, to be clear, boundaries are good. Wisdom is essential.
But some of us have said “no” to so many things out of fear, shame, or religious conditioning, we’ve forgotten how to say “yes” to the life God is actually offering.
Say yes to friendships. Say yes to travel. Say yes to that invite, that new class, that weird hiking trail with questionable signage.
Say yes to living.
2 Timothy 1:7 says:
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.”
Say yes with boldness. Say yes with faith. Say yes with messy, glorious imperfection.
Jesus didn’t come to micromanage your life. He came to redeem it—and to watch you run with it.
Final Thoughts: The Gospel of Joy
Look. Life is weird. It’s beautiful. It’s heartbreaking and hilarious and confusing and sacred all in one.
You will cry. You will laugh. You will mess up.
But you were made for more than just managing your schedule and attending potlucks with dry chicken.
You were made to live fully. Abundantly. Boldly.
Like Jesus did.
With purpose, yes. With holiness, yes.
But also with joy. With wine. With laughter. With life.
So go write. Go play. Go dance. Go be weird and wonderful and awake.
Write drunk, edit sober. Live fully, laugh deeply, love wildly.
And when in doubt?
Ask Jesus to pass the wine.
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