Wounds and Stilettos

Wounds and Stilettos

If I had to come up with a word to describe Friday’s strip club outreach, it would be “breakthrough”.   From getting into a club for the 1^st time in 7 years with gift bags, to talking to a manager who says he is leaving the industry in 3 weeks because “God told him to” and he wants to “follow in His footsteps”, to seeing the intense compassion in a bouncer who says his own heart breaks for the girls and seeing what they go through, it was an incredible night.

One of the most rewarding moments on a personal level came when we gave gifts (and lots of hugs) to the girls in a dressing room I hadn’t been in since the night I last worked there. 

Over 12 years ago, I showed up at this particular club for one of their weekly contests where I, along with dozens of other women, paraded naked around the stage hoping for the loudest applause and the $300 prize.  Early that night, before all the parading and madness began, I found myself sitting in the empty club next to a “competitor”.

“I think I am going to write a book about it.” I said starring at the empty stage.  

“About what?” she seemed surprised I was talking to her.

“About this…about stripping.” I began to ponder the nature of it all.  Exposing myself to the scrutiny of strangers and being openly judged solely on physical appearance. How familiar it had become.

The idea of writing a book lay dormant for years to come.  I suppose I had to live out

more of the story before I could record it.  If I had written it then, I probably would have had to call it “Wounds and Stilettos” rather than “Scars and Stilettos”.  Because before they are scars, they are wounds.  It would be a long while before the healing process turned my wounds to scars.   

Last Friday night, we passed the spot where I sat talking to the girl years ago.  I pictured my 20-year-old self and remembered what it felt like to be her.  If I could, I would give her a little pink gift bag and a hug and tell her “Precious Harmony, you are loved, valued, and purposed…”  

Love, Harmony

www.IAmATreasure.com

www.ScarsAndStilettos.com

PS. If you’re not following @TreasuresLA and @HarmonyDust on Twitter, here’s what you missed!

.                 Wow! I just went into the dressing room of a club for the 1st time since I worked there. Got so many hugs from the girls! 10:59 PM May 21st via Twitterrific

           

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Strip club mngr told us my # is written in sharpie on the dressing room wall 4 emergency help. Not the 1st time my # was written on a wallJ 10:42 PM May 21st via Twitterrific

             

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Bouncer says his heart breaks evry night 4 the girls that work in the club-that seein what these girls go thru makes him wanna b a better dad 10:30 PM May 21st via Twitterrific

            

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We just got into a strip club with giftbags that we haven't been able to get into for 7 yrs!! Via @TreasuresLA 9:54 PM May 21st via Twitterrific

            

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Strip Club manager is leaving the industry in 3 wks because God told him to...says he has to follow in His footsteps. Via @TreasuresLA 9:22 PM May 21st via Twitterrific

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Strip Club Outreach tonight! May we show God's love 2women who feel separated from it. You can be part of their stories http://bit.ly/dpvIru  8:53 AM May 21st via Twitterrific

Facing the Giants

FACING THE GIANTS

In the well-known story of David and Goliath, David faced and defeated his giant with a sling and a stone. Historically, in the days of Exodus, the Israelites had been afraid to enter the promised land because of the many ‘giants’ who inhabited that territory. It was the fear of the giants, not the giants themselves, that kept the people from God’s promise for them.

In my own journey, I have had to face some big giants: sexual abuse, rape, father issues, fear, rejection, abandonment, unforgiveness, and bitterness, to name a few. To rattle them off in a list like this is easy, but to actually face each of these head-on has been a battle. I can distinctly remember fighting though Los Angeles traffic to make the one-and-a-half-hour commute to see my therapist, where I had to pay upwards of $60 an hour to face some of my giants. I would much rather have been sitting on my couch, eating chocolate ice cream and watching reruns of Seinfeld. But if I wanted to walk in the fullness of God’s promises for my life, there were giants to be faced. Sometimes I felt like David: as if I was facing a seasoned combatant with weapons as puny as a sling and a stone. But during those times I learned that, like David, God has given me the tools I need to face the giants in my life, and that I never have to face them on my own. (Taken from the appendix of my memoir, Scars and Stilettos.)

If you are ready to face the giants in your life, you don’t have to do it alone!  We are launching Celebrate Recovery at Oasis and all are welcome!  This is a safe place where you can get on the road to recovery from your own hurts, hang-ups and habits.  For more details, visit http://www.oasisla.org/life--oasis/celebrate-recovery/

Love, Harmony & The Treasures Team

www.IAmATreasure.com

www.ScarsAndStilettos.com