Women paint their faces, arrange their hair, wear provocative clothing (or sometimes very little clothing). I suppose there are many reasons for doing that, not being a woman I haven’t experienced the emotions. Feminists would say it’s because men make them do it. Some, I’m sure, think it’s cool.
I’ve been in Las Vegas for the better part of a week. One of those conferences that start early that cuts down my morning routine. Hence, no posts here from last week. Back to my thoughts–in Vegas, it’s part of the show. All carefully orchestrated to put on the appearance of glamour. Keep the people gambling and drinking.
Disney orchestrates in the same manner, by the way. Just targeting a different audience. All designed to give customers an experience that will part them from their money.
Back to Vegas. If you look past the initial glamour, you notice a certain vacuum behind the facade. For most of the girls I saw as I walked through the casino on my way to the conference, though, I think they were just feeding their families. Just a job with a costume.
These women were just part of the act, but they’re paid for it. As an unsettling juxtaposition, one morning I was listening to a podcast on my way through the casino to the lobby door to go out for a run. This particular morning it was the message from Willow Creek Community Church.
Guest speaker Nicholas Kristof, author of “Half the Sky,” talked with Senior Pastor Bill Hybels about the terrible sins against girls and women across the globe. Sex trafficking with girls as young as 12. Women forbidden from gaining an education which would help them break the cycle of poverty. Kristof noted that the things that helped were smaller acts of person to person, not grandiose government to government programs. Read the book, listen to the message (it’s on iTunes or you can download by clicking the link). Give some money or some time–or both.
Faith Venture 
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