I am stunned

So a little while ago I went online to check email. I get this message from a friend of mine mentioning that a mutual acquaintance of ours has a myspace account. I went to it fully expecting to see pictures of her and her family. Maybe some silly pics and probably some mildly crossing-the-line comments from her "friends".

OH MY GOSH!

What I saw STUNNED me. I sat here right where I am now with my jaw dropped down almost denying to myself that I was seeing what I was actually seeing. There were pictures of her celebrating a 21st birthday of a friend (can't be sure of the relationship) in Las Vegas, making fun of some guy they had just met in a bar and a multitude of very inappropriate poses. And this was just one scenario. There were many other pictures, blog entries about different events, comments from from friends here and there. It is clear that this is not a one time occurance.

I know this girl/woman. It doesn't make sense to me that this is a side to her that I don't know about. I guess I have been wooed by the facade that is put on with the appropriate people. What bothers me is this. First of all, that this is a life she is choosing to live. That her husband watches her flaunt it all in front of other men. Wow, this is almost too much to think about.

Ok, here is where it blows me away. Then she takes these pictures and posts them on her site. Now all of creation can see it. It is like she has no shame, no reverance for her body, no pride in herself and no thought whatsoever as to who might see her like this. And, what in the world is her husband thinking???? Is he proud that other men are checking out his woman? And sadly, I know they have a son. Are these the morals and values that little junior is going to inherit?

High horse? Pious? Self righteous? Sounds like it I know. But I am so tired of what is happening in the world today. Lenny and I have to go into overdrive protecting our kids. And it isn't just from the boogy man. It is from the insulting pictures, the disgusting lack of self control with manners, words, cigarette smoke, drinking, even junk they come home from school with.

There is a huge lack of self control on many people. The lines are blurred and are becoming obsolete as to what is acceptable and ok and what should just not be. Behavior today is rated PG when not too long ago it would have been rated R or worse. The boundry of what was considered decent was close to home. And it was CLEAR and upheld. Now that boundry is way out in left field. If you squint and tilt your head, you might be able to find it.

And people don't care. The people walking around half dressed with their enhanced upper area falling out of their tops or the guys whose pants are sooooooo baggy that they have use of only one hand because the other has to hold the pants up. They don't care. And, heaven forbid that anyone approach them on it. It is though the people with the offensive behaviors suddenly have superpowers and will squash any opposition. Probably what does not help with the situation is that most things, most acts, most displays are legal. Nobody is going to go to jail over the things they do. The problem is that many people are unable to distinguish between acceptable and improper behavior, legal or not. There is a verse in the Bible that I LOVE...


1 Corinthians 6:12 "Everything is permissible for me"—but not everything is beneficial.

Paul is talking about just that. Maybe something out there is legal, acceptable, but does that automatically mean it should be done? Just because there are nudie mags right there in your face in line at the store, does that mean you should pick it up, peruse through it and buy it? NO Use some common sense.

Several weeks/months (can't remember exactly) ago I was in my favorite store - 7-11. There was this guy pouring a cup of coffee. Nicely groomed and seemingly normal. On the front of his tshirt it had a picture of a clown with a sad face. It said "It is not funny to laugh at the clown." On the back, it had the clown screaming/crying/fighting being, well let's just say being violated. The caption said "unless it is being raped." NO JOKE I KID YOU NOT that is what this shirt said. And, just being near the guy who would choose to buy it, wear it and then go out in public with it made my skin crawl.

So, being me, I approached him. I said "excuse me." He of course had no idea what I was going to say as he probably forgot that he even had the shirt on. He is all smiles and very approacheable. I said, "your shirt is pretty offensive. Especially to those that have been raped before." Here is what he said to me "sorry about your troubles." And takes off.

I tell ya something. Perseverance and longsuffering are what I need mega doses of. Maybe a healthy bucketful of peace too. I TRY - and fail many many many times - to remember that Christ died for that goon over there scratching his privates for all to watch. Christ loves that guy lots. God looked down from heaven and said that the half naked, fully drunk barfly was worth it. She was worth sending Christ to step into her place. WOW. I know that in my head. I know that. I really do. But gosh it is hard to remember, it is even more difficult to act accordingly when I am seething inside. When I am turning the head of my young daughter so she doesn't get an eyeful.


Am I the only one who feels the gravity of all of this? PLEASE PLEASE comment on this. I would really like to get some feedback. Thanks, Donna