Light and Dark

WARNING: Ron Ray story ahead. This could get lengthy.

I worked the Blues Traveler show at HOB last night. It was a really good show. The songs were great. The crowd was mellow. All of the security and servers were in a great mood. Overall it was a great show.

Musically speaking, it was one of the most talented bands to come through since I have worked there. It was very impressive. I actually got to kind of watch the whole show.

I was at a position called "Green Room Right." At this position, you control the flow of who goes backstage. Only people with special wrist bands get to go backstage. Mostly band members and tour managers. Usually no groupies. So it is not really a hard position. You get some curious people but not very many. Because it is kind of a slow position, you can really interact with the guest who are seated on stools nearby. Last night I was cutting up with some firemen who had traveled from Wilmington (one hour north). Toward the end of the show, since they were so cool, I got them some pricier seats in the reserved section that had not been sold. They had a good time.

After the show we did our usual pre-clean up activities. There were several people lingering nearby in the upstairs bar. When you work Green Room Right you cannot leave the position until every single person is gone from the upstairs section. So I stayed put.

About 10 minutes after the band was done, the tour manager came out and asked if we could leave the upstairs bar open because the band wanted to come out and have some drinks. Nick, my manager, said, "Sure!"

I have mixed feelings because it was a late show to begin with. It is 12:30 already and I am ready to go home. BUT...I may get to meet the band, which ,believe it or not, is unusual.

I did get to meet the band...45 minutes later when they were done drinking and completely hammered. Not pretty. They were also enjoying the company of some very intoxicated ladies. Also not pretty.

All of the awesome notes that they had played earlier were starting to get sour. And it got worse.

After they were done drinking at the bar and making their way back to the green room, one band member--which will remain un-named--looked at me and asked if I knew where they could find some "party favors", and tapped his right nostril. After I gave him my dealer's number, I..............wait for it................ JUST KIDDING!!

Seriously, the guy asked me if I knew where to get him some cocaine. I was mildly shocked. I really have never had to respond to that question or one like it. It's not like responding to, "Dude...what time is it?" Or maybe,"Hey man, where's the bathroom?" Or, "How do I get to the beach from here?" So, I just shook my head and said, "Man, I have no idea." They thanked me, shook my hand, and were on their way.

Once they were gone, I was able to leave my post. I went downstairs and told my manager what had just happened. He just shook his head and told me that the lady on "un-named band member's" arm--who he escorted backstage--was also a married woman. Unreal.

Seeing people at their best and at their worst all in one night was really epic and visceral to me. It stirred up some emotions deep inside of me. The battle between good and evil was playing out right in front of my eyes.

The whole thing just got me thinking about light and darkness, and the consequences of sin, and how if the Lord hadn't rescued me from sin and darkness that same scene could have played out in my life. At first I was judging all of the characters in that story. Thinking to myself, "How could they be so sinful?!" Then it's like the Lord whispered to my heart, "You are a sinner too. But I saved you from that darkness." Immediately my heart turned from judgement to pity for them. Because they are lost in their sin right now...like I was.

The whole situation made me glad that I have found The Light . It also affirmed to me that I don't want to live outside of that Light. I don't want to live in darkness. I want to do what's right, because it's right. I want to live in a way that directs glory and honor toward the Lord. I want to be light in this dark world.