We're Capable

"How could he do something like that?"

That's the question I caught myself asking twice in the last couple of weeks in response to two stories I heard about families that were ripped apart because of addiction.

One of my dad's former business associates who is retired with adult-aged kids was busted for having child porn on his computer...and lots of it. He was a fugitive for several days before turning himself in. Now he faces 800+ years in prison.

"How could he do something like that?"

Last week, a great friend of ours crippled his family when he confessed that he has still been feeding an addiction that everyone thought he had long ago overcome. The family could literally lose everything.

"How could he do something like that?"

It's not long after the words roll off my lips that the reality hits me...I am just as capable of wrecking my family.

They didn't wake up one day last week and decide to do all they did. It started years ago for both of them...and probably started quite innocently.

One extra look at the hot lady in the office. Order Sports Illustrated for the swimsuit issue and stash it in the bathroom for an extra look later on. Take a quick peak at a website.

The reality is that we are all one bad decision away from beginning a series of bad decisions that could lead us to the same place. The question is not, "How could he do something like that," but "what am I going to do today to make sure I don't do the same thing later on?"

I talked to my best friend yesterday about strengthening the boundaries that we have set in our lives. We know we're capable of anything. And that's the scary part.

Would love to hear boundaries you have set in your life and how you keep yourself accountable. If you aren't doing well at either, then check out the comments and start today!

Comments

[stephen]

hey man,
man this is such a sad problem that is so rampant in churches and communites everywhere. a couple of personal things i do are really inward, in that #1: i try to always act like cindy is right beside me. i know alot of people may say this, but this really helps out in situations of any kind. and #2:since none of us are immune to temptation, i keep a framed letter that cindy wrote and read to me at our wedding sitting right beside my laptop in our office at the house. just to look over there every day and see the closing line "...i can't wait to see what God can accomplish through us as we start our lives together..." - your bride. yea that will make your day any day.

anyways...this is just my personal stuff that God uses to keep me accountable.

[mike watkins]

Jay, thanks for covering this subject in a very biblical way. Too many sensationalize these kinds of things, but your post brings mature insight and wisdom.

I also appreciate Stephen's comments. He creates boundaries, but they are boundaries that evoke love and not law.

[jay hardwick]

stephen - thanks for sharing a couple of your boundaries. items like that letter are priceless...

mike - thanks for your encouragement!

i think i am going to do a series of posts on the moral boundaries thing at some point. it's too important to just gloss over and i want to get even more intense about boundaries in my life.