Glitter and Grace in Vegas
I just got back from a short trip to Las Vegas. 🎰
And honestly? That’s really all anyone can stand—short. Vegas is kind of like glitter: fun in theory, but overwhelming in practice.
Truth be told, I didn’t even want to go. It was my husband’s annual get-together with his Army buddies. The wives always tag along, and in years past, we’ve met up in someone’s hometown—usually for a wedding or a milestone birthday. But this year, for reasons unknown, they decided on Vegas.
Now, full disclosure: in the not-so-distant past, I actually used to enjoy Las Vegas. Probably more than I should’ve. But over the past year, the Holy Spirit has been doing some serious remodeling in my heart, and these days, Vegas is not high on my list of “must-visit” places.
My husband handled the travel plans—booked our hotel and, in true Army fashion, waited until the last possible moment to book our flights, which meant we paid top dollar. Awesome.
Now, while I’m not exactly thrilled with how much social media seems to know about me, I have to admit… sometimes it comes in handy. Case in point: not long after our flights were booked, Facebook started showing me ads for a Living Proof LIVE event. And not just any event—one featuring my all-time favorite Bible teacher and author, Beth Moore.
At first I thought, “Beth Moore? In Vegas? Is that even allowed?” I must’ve temporarily forgotten that Christians live everywhere, even in places with slot machines and questionable billboards.
The ad popped up again. And again. And again.
Then I checked the dates, and wouldn’t you know—it was happening the exact weekend we’d be in town. I mapped it out, and it was just 11 miles from our hotel. It fit perfectly into our (nonexistent) schedule. So after a quick check with my husband—who already knew I’d go to a Beth Moore event in a heartbeat—I bought a ticket.
Just one.
I wouldn’t know a soul there… except Beth. And after reading her books and doing her studies for the past 25 years, I felt like I knew her. She just didn’t know me. Yet.
Suddenly, I was actually looking forward to the trip.
When it came time to pack, I made sure to bring my real Bible. Because if there’s one thing you can count on, it’s that Beth Moore will have you flipping through Scripture faster than a sword drill champion. She says the sound of Bible pages turning reminds her of angel wings, and I love that. What I didn’t love was how heavy that Bible was (I just weighed it: 4lbs 11.7
ozs!) It lived in my oversized purse through every airport checkpoint, because no way was I trusting it to a baggage handler.
We landed in Lost Vegas—oops, I mean Las Vegas—on Thursday afternoon. Checked into our hotel at the Golden Nugget right on Fremont Street, and went in search of food.
We met up with friends who had arrived earlier and were already… let’s say… enjoying themselves. They were a little louder than usual. Their sentences kind of melted together. They wobbled. Like Weebles. But they didn’t fall down.
We found a place to eat. The food was underwhelming and it was way past my bedtime (thank you, Eastern time zone).
Once upon a time, I used to feel intimidated by the barely-dressed women on that street—wondering how I measured up, wondering if my husband was looking. But not this time. Whether it’s age, wisdom, or the Holy Spirit’s perspective shift, this time I saw them differently. They looked like kids. Little girls who had lost their way home. It was heartbreaking.
The crowds started to wear on me. I was tired. Cranky. Overstimulated. I smiled at our friends and as sweetly as I could, turned to my husband and said, “Can we go back to the room? I’m blaming the time zone.”
As we walked to the elevator, I had this thought:
“Now I know how Jesus must’ve felt when He ate with the sinners all the time…”
And just as quickly, I heard Jesus laugh.
Softly. Kindly. With that gentle conviction that only He can deliver.
“No, you don’t,” He whispered to my heart.
“I loved them.”
Oof.
👣 My toes hurt.
🗡️ My pride was mortally wounded.
⛓️💥 My attitude? Fully adjusted.
I’ve got some work to do. Good thing I was headed to church the next day—clearly, I needed it.
Be blessed!! 💛
Stay tuned for Part 2 when I share about the event!
Comments
Post a Comment