walK with THE Wise ~ "Which party will you join?"

Wisdom has built her house;

she has set up its seven pillars.

She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine;

she has also set her table.

She has sent out her servants, and she calls

from the highest point of the city,

“Let all who are simple come to my house!”

To those who have no sense she says,

“Come, eat my food

and drink the wine I have mixed.

Leave your simple ways and you will live;

walk in the way of insight.”

...Folly is an unruly woman;

she is simple and knows nothing.

She sits at the door of her house,

on a seat at the highest point of the city,

calling out to those who pass by,

who go straight on their way,

“Let all who are simple come to my house!”

To those who have no sense she says,

“Stolen water is sweet;

food eaten in secret is delicious!”

But little do they know that the dead are there,

that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead.

(From Proverbs 9)

Once upon a time, two gals who lived on the same block decided to throw a party on the same night. 

Wisdom sends her maid and butler out to invite anyone and everyone who wants to leave their simple ways and come join her for an elegant dinner party. Wisdom's party sounds important and interesting - but how many want to go through the whole rigmarole fixing hair in a more formal style, getting dressed up in something that will have to be dry-cleaned afterwards and wearing uncomfortable shoes rather than favorite flip flops. But it will be a classy party, the food is sure to be out of this world and the wind will perfectly compliment the food. Even better, this is the perfect opportunity to actually see what the inside of her amazing-from-the-outside-home looks like. 

Folly, however, attracts passersby... promising excitement and probably more than just little bit of naughtiness. It is hard to say who will be there: many prefer not to advertise that they are heading to Folly's place for the evening... and wee hours of the morning. There's lots of sweet and salty available, probably purchased from the corner party store - but it doesn't really do anything more than take the edge off of hunger pains. Even more varieties of drink line the table. There's even one of those fancy punch bowls filled with fizzy drinks and sherbet ice cream, but it is cheap and not really satisfying... and there must be something more hidden inside, because one sip... one cup... several cups only leave the consumer craving more. Folly's house looks marvelous at night with the candles and decorative lighting. Under the blazing sun of the next morning, partiers who are aware can actually  tell that the place is rundown, in need of a good coat of paint and the garden has clearly not been well-tended.

As we read Proverbs 9, we're supposed to identify which party we're attending?

Which party will you join?

Can you invite someone to join right along with you?