How to visit Las Vegas without feeling like I am sinning just by being there?
This feels like such a ridiculous question but my husband is receiving a professional honor and will be required to attend a ceremony next month. The ceremony is only held once per year and changes cities annually. We were so excited to attend as a family as we had our first baby 4 months ago and thought this would make a wonderful first trip together until we learned where the ceremony would be held this year. Las Vegas.
It is literally inside Ceasars Palace. We really struggled with whether or not me and the baby should come but I really want to be there for him. He worked so hard for this distinction for years and it broke my heart to think of him receiving it alone with no one to even take his picture. All of our family live outside the US and he said having a friend come wouldn’t be the same and he would rather just go out for the ceremony and fly right back.
What also factored into our decision was that I have always wanted to see the American south west and there are so many amazing national parks and beautiful landscapes nearby. We used to travel a lot but haven’t since I became heavily pregnant with our son so it’s really hard to pass up the chance. Because it is to do with my husband’s profession, the travel and car rental can be billed to his dental practice and we are able to take advantage of the opportunity to take our own vacation once we are out there.
The plan is to fly to Vegas, attend the ceremony and then spend 10 days exploring the southwest and end up back in Vegas to fly out. We will minimize our time there as much as possible but we will need to spend at least two nights there.
I feel so gross about it and honestly wracked with guilt and anxiety. I can’t bear to miss such an important moment for my husband but at the same time I feel horrible for bringing my son there, even if he is too little to know. I worry it’s sinful just being there. We will need to stay over night in the casino hotel and can’t even get to the ceremony without passing through the casino itself. We will just be surrounded by it and I’m scared of what I will see. It will even be right in the middle of pride month too just to make it worse. Am I wrong to be going? We made istikhara and my intentions are to support my husband. He does not have a choice, he has to go or forfeit the honor. Will it be a sin for me to be there even if I just stay in the hotel room with my baby except to go to the ceremony and travel to and from the airport?