“Take my hand.” The bearded stranger gestured as he asked with a gentle raspy voice.

“…Take your hand?…but what am I taking?” The young woman concerned and assertive yet cautious.

“Please…take my hand. I want to help you.” The man, gentle in his approach yet still persists.

“You. sir. want me to take your hand…but what am I taking? In other words, what do you want me to accept?”

He scoffs then chuckles quietly. “You don’t understand do you…I can take you to a place that is so much more than this. A place where you can make a way for yourself and take care of your family. A place where you can walk on streets of gold and know the taste of milk and honey. A place that is flowing with oil. I can offer you a good life in this place…trust me.” The stranger smiles innocently.

The woman pauses…her stare discerns the words and conduct of him whom comes as an angel of light.

“Well…”The woman’s eyes, fixed on the stranger’s open hand.

“Yes…well…what do you say?” The man openly grins with assurance.

“Your gold was harvested on the back and blood of the innocent.”

The man abruptly goes from grin to snarl. He pulls his hand away slowly and glares at the young woman.

“Your milk is spoiled and reeks of GMO. “The woman continues to speak assertively, “…and your honey is meant for those who bow and submit to your ways.”

The man restrains his angry temperance….he says not one word.

“Do you know why I’m here? It is your pride that has blinded you from seeing that I have always had a choice. I choose to be free.” She says definitively.

Free? You call this free?” The man jokingly scorns.

“Your prosperous land is freedom for you and captivity for me. I may look desolate but at least I’m free. Yes, it’s a hard endurance but it’s yet a vapor of time. I live for the eternal which is to come.”

“What is wrong with you girl?! Why are you so blind to see that..” He scolds.

The woman earnestly interjects, “I once was blind…BUT NOW I SEE…that your heaven is my hell.”

The stranger gradually walks aways, then turns “Who are you?”

“Wisdom.”