Vegas

Here we are... Las Vegas.

My sister is getting married and asked if I'd do the wedding. It's my first Vegas wedding. And no, I'm not going to wear an Elvis outfit (thank you... thank you very much).

Anyway, it's interesting here. Yes, it's Sin City. Sex everywhere. It right there, in your face. But you know the thing that bugs me the most is not that (as bad as it is), but it's the waist. It's the selfish, all about me, over the top, make me sick opulence.

I mean, here we are in a world where people die every day because they don't have food, water, the bear necessities of life. I mean a simple think like diarria (sp?) kills so many! And here I am in the middle of this hole in the universe that is sucking up so much of the world's resources in this vortex of narcissism and selfishness. It is truly repulsive.

It's like we've stepped into this emptiness where nothing is. That advertisement that says, "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas" is true because it's almost as if this is a non-place. The rules of fairness, social justice, have no place here. There in only one thing--ME.

Anyway, what I am I going to do with this experience? How am I going to let this form me? How am I going to let it form and shape my kids?

I'm not sure yet. But one thing it has re-stirred in my heart is a greater desire to impact my world for justice. It seems to me that somewhere along the Christian road we've kicked out this idea of justice and replaces it with the notion of judgment. God help us. Somewhere along the way we've strayed from the truth that God wants to redeem the world, not condemn it, not destroy it; and definitely not insulate us from its pains and injustices. Yet that's just what we've done in so many of our churches. We've built myopic monasteries that cater to my needs, my well being, my spiritual satisfaction. Really, when I think about it, it's not a whole lot different than Vegas. God help us.