Even as a kid, I loved mysteries. After I watched my first true crime documentary, I was hooked. Then once I discovered true crime podcasts, I was obsessed. I love the way that good ones make you feel like you’re learning something. You feel like maybe you could step into the story and save the day for someone.
Have you ever stopped to wonder why we’re so fascinated by true crime? Is it that we get to explore the human side of mysteries as we delve into the psyche of the person who committed the crime? Is it because we can confront our own mortality and feel like we’ve gained some measure of control in an increasingly out of control world? Or is it just that we love the adrenaline rush that comes from confronting a dark and disturbing topic?
From the first time we heard the term “murderabilia” to the countless true crime podcasts we’ve consumed, true crime, in all its forms, has become a staple of our modern obsession with “reality” media offerings. But does that come at a cost? What about the people who have had their lives taken and the families they leave behind? What about the suffering of the secondary victims? What about the damage to our communities?
One thing I know for sure because I’ve seen it as an investigator is that we love to feel like we’re part of an investigation. We love to feel like we’re part of something bigger, and we love to learn about what we might be capable of accomplishing. We love to feel like we’re making a difference in the world.
I understand all of that because I’ve been right where you are! Those feelings led me to be an investigator and to start a podcast. That’s not for everyone, and that’s okay. We all still have a part to play!
“If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything? But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it (emphasis mine). How strange a body would be if it had only one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body.”
1 Corinthians 12:17-20 NLT
Each one of us has a unique role to play, and each role is important. And don’t forget the parts of the body we can’t even see! Nobody’s going anywhere without a liver. Maybe God is calling you to do something to help victims of crime or to prevent crime from happening in the first place. If He is, all that matters is that we follow where He leads.
If you’re ready to do that, but you don’t know where to start, please email me at [email protected]. I’d love to help you along your journey!