My Time at Hollywood and Vine

Today following our conference we visited Hollywood, California.  It was not what I expected!

On TV you see the glitz and glamour of Hollywood and not the reality of it's culture.  As we drove and walked down Sunset Strip and Hollywood Blvd. it became apparent that there were a lot of hurting people in the shadow of the entertainment industry.

We also traveled up into Beverly Hills where the homes are built along the mountain ridge overlooking Hollywood.  As we drove we noticed that there was mud in the streets and it became clear that due to how the homes were built the mountain was literally falling down onto the homes and destroying lives.  Amazingly the people who lived in these homes have learned to adapt and accept the consequences of their choices.

We also saw the same destruction of the mountain homes in the streets of the city made famous by the entertainment industry.  As we walked the noise of emergency vehicles began to sound.  For the next several minutes police car after police car and all kinds of rescue equipment passed.  As we walked closer to the scene we were informed that a man had jumped from the Kodak Theater's top floor to his death on the sidewalk of Hollywood Blvd.  The consequence of his choice cost him his life.  Tragically the show must go on and the crowd gathered to view his draped body lying on the cold pavement surrounded by sadness and hopelessness.

It was interesting to visit Hollywood, but the thing I will most remember is how in this place where happiness is made in the form of movies, at least one individual felt compelled to walk into eternity obviously unhappy.