I was the prostitute in the Red Light District this weekend.
There were six of us visiting the Shelter City, presenting a drama for the Good Friday outreach. Lukas was God, Christian was Man. Greta was the Temptation of Money, Sarianne the Temptation of Wild Living, I was the prostitute. And it wasn't until we were standing there practicing in the stairwell that I realized how powerful this thing was.
The Red Light District is the next block over from the Shelter City. Many of the guests that stay there come simply to be in close proximity to the women. Tonight the cafe was full of guests, mostly men, staying for the free meal and program.
In the drama, God creates Man. They have a good relationship; He gives him everything He needs, but warns him about the 3 temptations- which are exactly what he goes for. Christian drinks with Sarianne, he chases the money Greta waves at him, he is seduced and played by me. We become the wall between him and God- we torture him and then God steps out and takes his place. Greta and I hold Lukas's hand taut as Sarianne gives the lashes Jesus endured. We pound the nails into His hands and feet and laugh at his last breath. We slink towards Christian to torture him again, but Lukas springs up- defeating death and sprawling all of us out on the floor.
My heart beats hard as this scene runs through my head in the stairwell. There is power in it. There is power in it because it is true. And I think of our surroundings and the light and power that we are presenting in this dark place. I also think of these women. On the way as I had walked to the City, I passed some of the windows. I was struck by this familiar signal- their fingers beckon just like my part in the drama. For them, this is real. They are part of this wall that tempts and separates others from God. They have this wall in their hearts as well.
God used the drama powerfully. We performed it again at the Jordan and it brought tears and questions. Walter left the room after it and sat between the front doors, just staring. He told me he drank hard that night. Because of the drama? He wouldn't say. Pray for Walter and all the other guests and cleaners who saw this drama. Pray that they will understand that Jesus is the one who makes this wall come down; that He is the one who makes relationship with God possible again.


p.s. In all my stories I have changed people's names a bit, just to keep them safe, but Jesus knows who they are- please pray for them!