“All of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind.” 1 Peter 3:8
I visited Vegas about seventeen years ago during the month of July. I promised myself that I would not return to Vegas, ever. But if by any chance, I happened to return, it would be in the winter. Apparently, God has a sense of humor, because here I am, once again, in Vegas, smack in the middle of the month of July. According to my weather app, the temperature right now is 93 degrees, which is actually not too bad considering that when I checked it yesterday from Miami, it was 108 degrees.
The first time I came, with my hubby, three small children, and my parents, I honestly felt that I had entered a parallel realm, and I was in hell. Between the heat, the gambling, and the pornography, I was pretty sure that Vegas and hell were one and the same. This second time, I did not come by choice. My son Rafi invited me. He is in a conference titled “Next Generation Disability Inclusion.” The opportunity to spend three days with my son was stronger than my apprehension of returning to Vegas in the month of July.
This time, though, I have experienced Vegas in a totally different way. First of all, I am super proud of my son who is using his disability to make a difference in the lives of others. He shared his story yesterday, and will share it again on Thursday. I was not able to witness it yesterday because it was a private audience. I did watch the video this morning, and I had a hard time holding back the tears. It’s a good thing I got a peek, so I can be ready on Thursday when I will be present for his presentation.
As I walked around my hotel today, I saw the next generation. I saw young blind people walking around with canes or service dogs. I saw young people in wheelchairs. I saw young people that looked normal on the outside but just like my son, probably have some kind of hidden disability that is invisible to the eye. But the most important thing that I saw today was hope. I saw the hope of a new generation of business leaders that are accepting of each other. Instead of concentrating on their differences, they are seeing each other as humans. This is the face of Vegas that I had not experienced the first time around.
Of course, I did not stay within the boundaries of my hotel. Today, I went out to explore other hotels nearby. Yes, the gambling is still very much present. The heat is just as unbearable as it was seventeen years ago. And even though I did not receive any pamphlets on the street inviting me to visit the clubs where pornography is more prevalent than anything else, I know that pornography is a big part of this city. But today, I also experienced the beauty around me. The Bellagio has this magnificent flower gardens that completely overshadow the casino next door.
The Wynn Hotel also has beautiful gardens, and a lake known as “Lake of Dreams” with a beautiful waterfall. But the best part of today is that I got to witness the goodness in humanity. One time, I asked a total stranger to take my picture, and he took, not just one, but four different poses. Two more times, complete strangers offered to take my picture without me even asking. I also talked to the lady that was cleaning my room, to the waitress at the bar by the pool, to the server at the restaurant... and in all of them, I saw the face of God. I even told my son Rafi as we were having dinner, “the best thing about Vegas is that it provides jobs for a lot of people.” His answer, in his unique peculiar way was: “That’s right, it provides jobs for taxi drivers, for restaurant waiters, for people that handout pornography flyers...” I guess, there is opportunity for everyone in Las Vegas.
One of this taxi drivers that I got to meet was a young man from Afghanistan. He has lived here just for eighteen months. He was my taxi driver from the airport to the hotel. I must confess that my first reaction when he told me where he was from was to cringe. It’s amazing the effect that the media has on our brains. The constant bombardment of negative news coming from that part of the world, makes us think that everyone from there must be a terrorist. But that is not the case. I have learned from my children, who are part of the next generation, that everyone deserves a chance. My taxi driver turned out to be a very sweet and humble young man who is here looking for what all of us want, a better life and a better future for his family. He has a 17-month-old son and 4-month-old daughter to think of, and even though he misses his country and his family back in Afghanistan, he realizes that his children will have a much better chance at a better life here than over there.
I guess God wanted me to see that even though Vegas has not changed much in seventeen years, we can find Him anywhere we go. When I came the first time, I was just looking at all the dark faces of Vegas, and I missed the beauty that was probably present back then too. This time around, even though I came with apprehension, I also came with an open mind, and I decided that if I had to be here, I would give Vegas a chance. And I was happily surprised to discover that Vegas does have a different face, and it is quite beautiful.
