I’ve been re-reading C.S. Lewis’s “Mere Christianity” this past week. Considering his experience in World War I, it is not surprising how often he compares the world to a war zone, especially comparing Christians to those living in enemy territory. Lewis writes so logically, so there is little debating what he says. I understand it.
But last night I felt it.
Last night, we hit the bars in Chiang Mai for Jesus. I spent about an hour and a half talking to a ladyboy named Pong. There is something about the ladyboys here that, strangely enough, cracks me up. Think of Captain Shang from Mulan… in a black mini-dress and silver heels. Pong is especially sassy, and we laughed a lot.
But looking around a bit, I couldn’t laugh. I actually wanted to throw up my Diet Coke. Behind us, a 60-something Ukranian man laughed and flirted with his 20-something Thai boyfriend.
Man after man after middle-aged man wandered by alone. It may seem presumptuous to say that they were all there to buy one of the beautiful little Thai women in tight clothing that line the streets and fill the bars, but that is the reality here. No one tries to hide it.
When I say we’re in the “red light district,” it’s not a seedy, ghetto area that the cops don’t dare go to. It’s like Aggieville, Old Town, Power & Light. The biggest, nicest hotels are at one end of the street. Tourists from all over the world walk past; I overhear more English, French and German than Thai. Lewis’s words about “enemy territory” become so literal in this place.
The colorful lights and loud music fill the streets, but it is dark. It is tangible, a heavy darkness. I turn onto that street, and I feel it. I look into the eyes of young prostitutes, and I see it. If any of the farang men would dare look me in the eyes, I know I would see it there too. And I don’t know what to think about it.
But we’re going back tonight. And the next night. And the next.
I’m still waiting to see how… but we’ll light up the darkness.
-Katie
