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She Knows It Not


My son, pay attention to my wisdom, listen well to my words of insight, that you may maintain discretion and your lips may preserve knowledge. For the lips of an adulteress drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil; but in the end she is bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to the grave. She gives no thought to the way of life; her paths are crooked, but she knows it not. (Proverbs 5:1-6) 

          Yes, we’re back to adulteresses. Sigh. Some might wonder what Solomon’s problem is with sex. I don’t think he had one. He had hundreds of wives and even more concubines. He’s the guy who wrote Song of Solomon. Don’t read that to anyone under eighteen. They’ll accuse you of being a pedophile. I don’t think his problem was with sex. As I said before, it was with disloyalty.
          Yesterday, in a Face Book writing group, someone asked in what ways we differed from the author stereotype. A few of us went off on a short rabbit trail because we not only don’t drink alcohol, we loathe the stuff. This wasn’t a “Alcohol is from the devil,” conversation. One guy said that to both him and his grandmother, alcohol tasted like some chemical. I don’t remember what the chemical was but think in terms of a solvent like turpentine. I was excited because this is the first time I’ve ever encountered someone who finds alcohol as disgusting as I do. I don’t think it tastes like solvent. I hate the “burn.” I don’t drink carbonated drinks either, because I hate the bite. 
          What amazed me almost as much as finding others who have a physiological basis to their hatred of alcohol is the reaction of people around them in their lives. Basically, it was, “But if you just tried ________, it wouldn’t be like that,” or “I’m sure if you keep trying different drinks, you’ll find one you like.” Can you imagine? “Keep trying different types of Brussels sprouts, someday you’ll find one you like.” Or, “Oh, you just don’t like Holstein beef liver. If you tried Angus, you’d love it.” 
         What’s more, those offering the advice really believe they’re doing you a favor. I’ll give the statistic again. Eighty-eight thousand people per year die as a result of an encounter with someone who has been drinking alcohol. These friends don’t realize that they’re inviting you to Hell. It doesn’t occur to them that anything could possibly go wrong. Drinking is enjoyable. It’s fun. It lets them have a good time. Hear the adulteress? You won’t be among the victims. You’ll just enjoy the freedom. They don’t mean any harm. They really don’t. They’re just trying to help you enjoy life a little more. They really think they are. Hear the serpent?

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