Hubby’s work buddy recently purchased a new home. He and his wife were throwing a Housewarming party and hubby and I were invited to the occasion! Exciting!
Hubby’s and my expectations of the Housewarming party were that it would basically be an “Open House” where friends and family drop in once the couple was moved in and all settled in their new home. Guests would bring flowers or gift cards of congratulation, we’d all snack on perhaps pizza and finger foods, and we’d hang out and have a good time chit-chatting.
Hubby and I arrived at the Housewarming event and immediately realized we were woefully underdressed. Everyone showing up for the Housewarming was decked out in elaborate, brightly colored celebratory outfits.
The Housewarming event wasn’t just a mere “Open House” … it was an important, auspicious occasion of the highest magnitude (up there with weddings!).
The garage door was open with tables full of food tantalizing everyone with their spicy aromas! Chairs were set up in the driveway for party-goers to sit and visit. A large welcome banner hung from a tall display-post in the front yard.
To the left of the garage, a footpath led along the edge of a small grassy front courtyard to the front door. On either side of the entrance to this footpath sat the halves of a smashed pumpkin, seeds and pumpkin goo spilling out, as various other assorted cut fruits sat alongside. Sprinkled over all was red and yellow-orange powder (perhaps some type of seasoning powder?).
Shoes were not to be worn across the threshold of this footpath. (it would sully the blessing on the home)
Shoes must be removed!
So, all shoes were removed in the driveway and deposited off to the side of the garage.
Barefoot we padded between the halves of smashed pumpkin and down the footpath to the front door (along with other newly-arriving guests) … noticing, as we went, a metallic statue of an elephant god with 4 arms which was set up in an elaborate display in the small grassy front courtyard. There were flowers as offerings to the elephant god. And I think there was a small basin of water with floating flowers.
Reaching the entrance to the home, more fruit & vegetable offerings had been placed on either side of the front door … all sprinkled with red & yellow-orange powder.
Stepping into the new home … there was not a single piece of furniture! The home was completely empty and bare. However, the front living room held a large elaborate display which seemed as if the entire produce section of the grocery store had been brought and placed here as a sacrificial offering. Cut fruits everywhere! Flowers! Red powder sprinkled!
Evidently the blessing ceremony for the home had been performed sometime around 2 or 3am. The timing was very important! The timing had been determined by the priest according to the stars.
I’m guessing the smashing of the pumpkin (which I’m guessing was done by the priest) at the entrance to the front footpath must have occurred during this 2-3am blessing ceremony?
And I guess something important must have taken place in the small grassy front courtyard with the elephant god statue?
And likewise, I’m guessing the priest must have done something significant with the fruit/vegetable offerings on either side of the front-door entrance?
I was very curious. What had the blessing ceremony for the home entailed?? What did the priest do? And what was the point of it all anyway?
Why place a grocery store’s worth of produce in a cut-up heap in the middle of the living room?? And why the red and yellow-orange powder?? What was the significance of sprinkling red powder all over the cut-up produce??
Needless to say, I kept my questions to myself. Clearly, everyone else in attendance knew exactly what was going on … and the significance of it all.
Why could they not move into the home until after the Housewarming blessing ceremony?? Why were all the bathrooms in the home off-limits for use? What was so taboo about allowing guests to use the restrooms inside the home??
A small pot of milk had been boiled in a copper pot on the stove by the priest … blessing the kitchen of the home so that now food could be prepared there. Why?? Why must a pot of milk be boiled by the priest before the kitchen can be used?? I don’t get it.
Naturally, as with any typical Housewarming event, all the guests brought gifts of congratulation! However, at this Housewarming party all the guests likewise received gifts as well! This was mind-blowing to me! And they were nice gifts too!
Hubby’s and my gift bag contained an apple, an orange, two adorable little decorative jars, a lovely scarf, and a miniature trinket of the elephant god (with little baubles containing the red and yellow-orange powder).
My mind was blown! I don’t think I have ever received a gift just for attending someone else’s party. No doubt it must have been quite costly to provide such lovely gift bags for every single guest in attendance!
And not only that … there was a full buffet! … with 15 or more elaborate, delicious dishes to choose from, all lined up on the buffet table! It was amazing!
As hubby and I sat there visiting with the other guests and enjoying our platefuls of delicious food, we were fully aware that the food we were eating had been offered to an idol.
It was a strange feeling to know that the food you are eating has been offered to an idol. I have never before been in a situation such as this.
I am so thankful God chose to include the letter of 1 Corinthians in our Bible, because as I sat there eating food which had been offered to an idol, I had a completely clear conscience … thanks to Paul’s teaching:
“So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world and that there is no God but one. … There is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.” – 1 Corinthians 8:4-6
“Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, for, ‘The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.’ If some unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience.
“If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for? So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” – 1 Corinthians 10:25-27, 30-31
It meant a lot to hubby and me to be invited by his good friend and work buddy to his Housewarming party. It was an honor to be invited into their home, into their life, and into what matters most to them. It was an honor to be able to participate in friendship with them.
After all, this is what God calls us to in life … to love others.
Hubby and I carried our gift bag home with gratefulness. We were pretty sure the orange and apple had been offered as a sacrifice to the elephant god … and we enjoyed them with gratefulness.
The miniature trinket of the elephant god (with little baubles containing the red and yellow-orange powder) I placed in my kitchen drawer, where I see it every day … and every time I see it, I pray for hubby’s good friend and work buddy! I pray that he and his wife will come to salvation and faith in Jesus Christ!
New Creation | Prestonwood Worship | Official Lyric Video – YouTube
“I was buried, buried in my sin.
There was a debt that I couldn’t repay.
My heart was broken, needed a healer.
But then I called your name.
Jesus, you made a way.
“I am a new, I am a new creation.
The old is gone, and now things are changing.
I once was blind, but now I see in color.
I once was dead, now alive … now I’m free forever!”
