Monday- We prayer walked Bangla Road today.
I had been expecting my heart to break for the women on the road, or maybe the children… but it was the men.
The very first thing I saw when we arrived was a sign advertising “Husband Daycare.” “Want a day of shopping? Need some time away? Just drop your husband off and we’ll entertain him- You just have to pay for his drinks.” What isn’t on the sign are the poles decorating the bars or the women available to buy for the evening.
I almost threw up.
All along the road were advertisements for a boxing show- big men from all over the world asserting their masculinity by beating the tar out of each other. And for a low, low price of a few hundred baht you can own your very own boxing shorts. Living the dream, baby.
The road is lined with pictures and signs that assault the senses. Women beckoning promiscuously from bar signs. Names that evoke strength and domination… The Navy Bar… Soi Tiger… Pussy Penitentiary Bar…there are worse names that I can’t bear to type out. It’s all targeted at men. On Bangla you can be the strong, ‘respected’ man that you want to be.
I passed a man sitting in a bar with a beer- in the middle of the day- alone. What hit me was the look in his eyes- utterly devoid of light and life. Totally vacant. Like he was asking, “is this it?”
Later that night while out at the bars I saw a twenty-something year old man strutting past a bar in an over-sized basketball jersey, leading a thai woman along like a dog. The woman's face reflected a guarded indifference and boredom, but his roamed the streets looking for approval. Am I enough? Am I strong, respected, powerful?
Oh Jesus, it broke my heart. The enemy is attacking your men. He is waging an assault on them-and on their wives and marriages.
My brother, Michael. Leonard, Ryan, Zeph, Nathan.
All of these men that I love are under attack every day by the enemy of their souls. He pronounces that they are nothing more than sex-crazed idiots who have to assert themselves through aggression and sexual prowess to prove that they are strong. Oh Papa, protect them. Jesus, breathe life and light into their hearts. Guard their hearts against these lies and temptations.
Aaron S., Evan, Aaron W., TJ, David.
Show them what it means to be true men of God- full of strength, leadership, and character.
Charles, Josh, Jack, Jacob, Michael B.
Purify their hearts, Jesus, and use me to encourage and strengthen them in any way possible.
I’m a woman- I can only relate so much, and I’m probably the next closest thing to a feminist. But, Father, I beg that you teach me how to honor these men in my life. How to challenge them to be the leaders and holy warriors that You have made them to be. To encourage them in their pursuit of you and never to be a stumbling block.
But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:11-12
