April 24, 2006
Paris in Vegas
Back from Vegas. There's not much you need to know about Vegas except these simple truths:
1. People will do things while they're in Vegas they would never ordinarily do. Sometimes this can be good: karaoke, getting excited about an Elvis impersonator, wearing a bikini in public. Sometimes this can be... bad.
2. God seems to be missing in Vegas and it's palpable and it made me very uncomfortable.
3. Americans are gluttons, there's no denying it.
This was my fourth trip to the Strip and I can safely say it was my last. I'm a different person than I was the last time I was there, and I don't know if it was maturity in general or maturity in my faith that allowed me to see things for more of what they were, but see them I did.
There is some beauty in Vegas: the way the lights shine in the dark desert; the amazing buildings sprung up from nothing; fine linens and art and food. But there is ugliness there too, and so much darkness. (Despite the bright lights.) And people who are looking for happiness in places they'll never find it.
Posted by hannah at 04:44 PM
See, I'll never go to Vegas either, but for different reasons, mostly that if I really want to get my casino fix, Atlantic City is right there. But I hear you in that there's something rather depressing about Vegas.
I'm glad you're back!
Posted by Coleen on April 25, 2006 12:52 PMHannah, I think you named all of the reasons I don't even want to go to Vegas. I'm a lot more quiet about my faith than you are, but your description of it as Godless isn't fundamentally different from my characterization (based on my understanding of it) as soulless. I tend to try to avoid soulless places, because they make me feel empty and there's little reason to pay money to feel bad, in my opinion.
Posted by Michelle on May 18, 2006 08:02 PM
