Reflections from Las Vegas - Sin City!

Last night we walked ‘The Strip’ of Las Vegas. It was unreal! I don’t think I have ever been to such an obscenely materialistic, over-the-top place in my life; and whilst it was an eye-opener, its certainly not a place I’m inclined to come back to.

I guess some of the other people walking about might have been just observing, like we were, but certainly most were there for gambling, drinking and all the associated activities. The hotels are ridiculously massive, with casinos, eating places and shops filling their lower levels. People wander about scantily dressed, and music blares out from the different buildings, competing with the place next door.

The whole place oozes excessiveness – and it made me yearn to be back amidst the simplicity of life that I have witnessed in some of the other countries I’ve visited. People who recognize that life isn’t just about the here and now, but that there is a more eternal perspective that gives them hope amidst the poverty and toughness of their life.

Whilst the people I saw last night seemed to be putting all their focus into making as much money as possible, and gaining security in that way, so the folks I’ve met through CRED visits have a much healthier focus on life, and one that I am much more in tune with.

Las Vegas is a degrading place in many ways, and one aspect that really hit me was the number of people standing on the street handing out cards for ‘escorts’ and girls for the night. After my time with Women At Risk, and hearing the stories of the ladies there, I found myself wondering what the stories were of the girls waiting in their rooms, for the call, to go and spend a night entertaining a strange man. Had any of those girls gone into that profession voluntarily? Or were they the victims of trafficking, and abduction? And even if they had gone into it voluntarily, how many still wanted to be there, being defiled and abused, night after night?

Thankfully we are moving on today, through Death Valley to the Sierra Mountains of California – back to incredible vistas and evidence of the majesty of God’s creative might.

In some ways I’m glad we came to Vegas – to see, to give food for thought, and to instill deeper appreciation for, and reason to pursue, the simpler life. But I’ll not be hurrying back here!