If you live near Seattle you know this story too well. If you're out of state, you may or may not have watched the national coverage on it. Superbowl Sunday was trumped by the tragic news of the end of a horrifiying story. Since 2009 the Powell family has often dominated the headlines here. I don't remember all the details, but here's the general storyline. Mother goes missing in Utah and the husband is the chief suspect. Her body has never been found. Meanwhile the husband's father is charged with voyeurism, possessing child porn. The husband loses custody of his children. Finally the husband premeditates and follows through the murder of his own children.If you need more details you can check the headlines; it's unspeakable and a slam-dunk case of evil personified. Very often we throw that term around casually. I mean even I watch Star Wars and tell my kids it's good v. evil; or sometimes I quote Mike Myers who says "e-VIL."
But in following this case, it's not wrong to use the term "evil." How does one family's actions destroy the lives of so many without a conversation about "evil?" Who can deny an evil presence in this world after following this story? Even children being exploited and murdered. Ephesians 6 is a passage in the Bible that talks about putting on the armor of God. What is that armor for? Verse 12 says that a follower of Jesus' struggle is against more than flesh and blood, but against "rulers, authorities, and powers of this dark world, and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."
If you are a follower of Jesus reading this post, I encourage you to pray for protection of kids and for healing for the Cox family (in-laws), and remember that evil is real. If you are not a follower of Jesus, I implore you to take a step of faith. Ask God to show you he is real; look at the horrfic events of this case and know that Satan, sin, and evil are real.
And yes, there is good. God in the flesh - it's Jesus. He comforts; he saves; he is love. Amidst the evil he offers real hope.
1 comment:
I haven't heard about the headlines in Seattle, but there have been a lot of similar "murder-suicide" cases in the San Diego area. I too don't understand how a mother or father could choose to end their children's lives. I definitely need to pray more for my kids and their safety in this world.
I hope your family is doing well!
Melanie
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