by Teri Ong 

Maggie gathered up the mail in the box in one swoop as she opened the front door with the other hand. She tossed it on the console table inside the door, along with her purse and keys. There was never anything of real interest these days. Everyone does everything through social media, she thought, idly wondering how long the postal service could reasonably survive. 

“Well, here’s one thing,” she said half out loud. “A save-the-date card from the Lowe family.” 

Those usually meant a wedding or a baby shower was in the offing. 

“Hmm! I’ve never seen anything like this! Wow! Wait until Peter sees this!” She chuckled incredulously as she went into the kitchen to start supper prep. 

“Hey, Hon, I’m home,” Peter announced. “Anything up tonight?” 

Maggie wiped her wet hands and came in the living room. She gave Peter a peck on the cheek. “No, nothing particular. Get a look at the card we got from the Lowes.” She shuffled through the stack of junk mail and handed him the unusual card. 

“What?!” he exclaimed. “They’re opening a liquor store and their son is going to manage it?! In fact, they’re calling it ‘Jake’s’ in his honor. That is unbelievable! They have always been tee-totalers and they know we are too. Why would they do something like this?” 

“I guess you’ll just have to ask them Sunday at church.” 

Sunday Peter managed to catch Sam Lowe as he was heading toward his car in the church parking lot.  

“Hey, Sam. Wait up. I wanted to let you know we got your invitation to the grand opening of your liquor store.” 

“Yeah, well. You and Maggie are some of our best friends and we really want to share the celebration with you.” 

“I kind of don’t understand though, Sam. I thought you and Julie were tee-totalers like us.” 

“Oh, we were. Well, I guess we still are, but Jake really likes his alcohol.” 

“What does that even mean?” Peter asked skeptically. 

“He just loves alcohol. He has been attracted to alcoholic beverages for a long time. He started drinking at a friend’s house in high school, but we never really knew about it. Then he started reading up on all sorts of different kinds of drinks on the internet so he knew what to ask for when he went into bars. He even printed off posters of different iconic brands and collected recipes for mixed drinks. He’s really a devotee.” 

“I’m having a little hard time getting my mind around this. I never would have guessed. But Jake has been away from home, so I haven’t seen him for awhile.” 

“Yeah. He went away at first because he knew how we all felt about his obsession. But it ended up being a good thing because he got into a little jam with a couple DUI’s and was arrested for public drunkenness. We wanted him to see the pastor because his attraction to alcohol seemed a little unhealthy.” 

“How did that work out?” 

“Well, he actually went for counseling a few times, but the pastor wanted him to confess his obsession with alcohol as a sin. You know, he used that bit in Ephesians about not being drunk and dissipated under the influence of alcohol. He tried to convince him that his attraction was dangerous and would lead to serious spiritual consequences. But Jake wouldn’t see it. He told the pastor that his attraction to alcohol was no different that other people being attracted to coffee or Perrier. It was just how God made him, so there was nothing wrong with pursuing it.” 

“What has he been doing lately with his life?” 

“He’s been a bartender at two or three different bars up in Marshall, but he thinks it is time to settle down and be committed.” 

“So that explains the liquor store?” Peter asked, a little confused. 

“Yeah, it’s not what we really hoped for for him. But he’s our son, and we want to show him we love him, so we are going to help him celebrate who he is by letting him have his own liquor store. We really hope you and Maggie will come celebrate with us.” 

“Sam, I’m not sure we can do that. I don’t think it is the right or loving thing to do. You are helping him satisfy and indulge his sinful lust. It seems like buying a store for a kleptomaniac, or a brothel for an adulterer.” 

“Are you saying Julie and I are wrong?” Sam tensed visibly. 

“Yeah, I’m saying you are wrong. The loving thing would be to help him out of a sinful lifestyle– not to affirm him and enable him in it.” 

“Wait, wait, wait! Are you agreeing with the pastor that Jake’s attraction is a sin?” 

“Yes.” 

“Well, Julie and I just don’t see it like that. If Jake says that it is just the way he is wired, who are we to argue with his reality? At least he’ll be settled in a good business relationship.” 

“I guess I’ve held you up long enough, Sam. Maggie and I will be praying for all of you.” 

“So I guess we won’t see you at the big celebration?” 

“No, sin isn’t worth celebrating.” 

“Thanks for nothing, Peter! And we thought you were our friends,” Sam spat in anger. 

Both stood silent for a moment. 

Sam softened, “Maybe we can just agree to disagree.” 

“I’m sorry, Sam. I’ll never be able to affirm sin. I guess I just have to disagree on this one,” Peter said calmly. “See you next week.” 

 Sam turned away. “Maybe.”  

 on a personal level. They are inviting us to the opening of a liquor store as a family.