Vegas Will Destroy Me

I know my weakness and I'm leaving.

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I'm only visiting Vegas for a few days to get my passport renewed and see my parents.

I'm happy they live here. They're enjoying the low taxes and found a great pickleball community here. But even this short visit reminds me why I personally can never live in Las Vegas.

This city is designed to destroy young(ish) men like me. Strip clubs on every corner. Asian massage parlors advertising what they're really selling. Escorts galore. It's called Sin City for a reason.

I'm an eligible batchelor surrounded by predatory temptation. The women here sell their flesh to survive. The entertainment is soulless spectacle designed to separate men from their money and their souls.

I'm self-aware enough to know I would slip into temptation if I stayed longer than necessary. Willpower is overrated. Studies prove it fails when we need it most. The enemy is always working to pull us off the narrow path, especially when our work involves revival.

Being in an explicitly secular environment isn't healthy for my spirit. My parents are atheists dealing with family frustrations back in China. I understand my role as a Christ follower in a family of non-believers, but I'm not spiritually strong enough yet to elevate everyone else. It's not time to bring them to Christ.

The solution is simple: great physical distance from temptation. I need to get back to Austin or better yet Tulsa, where I can be surrounded by people who share my ethics. Where I can walk the narrow path without constant spiritual warfare.

This isn't about judging Vegas or anyone who lives here. It's about knowing my limits and making wise decisions about where I spend my time.

Even a few days here feels too long. My greatest work depends on getting out and staying out.