I’ve been thinking about perpetrators lately. Someone very dear to my heart will soon be serving a jail sentence for viewing child pornography. Make no mistake, he IS a perpetrator; but at the same time, on many levels, he is also a victim. By participating in a repulsive, abusive crime against innocent children, he has severely injured his beloved wife, his family, and countless other people. Nothing I say in this post minimizes or excuses his actions. However, knowing him as I do and seeing his character & faith since he was exposed leaves no doubt in my mind that he is also a victim of his own crime. He compromised his integrity and behaved beneath his own code of conduct. The guilt and shame of a lesser man would have blamed it on someone else or excused his own behavior; but this young man has done neither. He could be bitter about the people (some he loved and trusted) who have turned away and completely withdrawn from hi., Instead he chooses to be thankful for the people who have come along side and encouraged him and his wife. He deeply and sincerely regrets what he did. I can’t help but feel compassion as he is now facing the consequences of his choices. There is so much more to him than this ugly fraction of his life. I know that what he is dealing with now as a result of his crime is only the tip of the ice burg. There awaits repercussions that will reach far into his future. My heart aches for him – this dear perpetrator that I love.

I will write more another time. My thoughts have not remained centered on this particular case. I may alter the focus to encompass reflection on some of the perpetrators against me.Stay tuned for further developments.