damaged

Yesterday I was looking for books on Amazon for the kids and across the bottom of the page was a list of books that they thought might interest me. The list that came up were not the type books I have ever purchased. But one caught my attention. The picture on the front was a Harlequin-ish picture but the title caught my attention. When you talk about  the word "damaged", I immediately think of things like trafficked humans, little girls sold for adults selfish thrills, lost teenagers who are lured away by pretend care and concern. The title and the review did not define damaged in that way.

The premise of the book was a "relationship" between a teacher and a teenager and how they both had baggage but found some connection.

Reviews about this book gushed about how wonderful it was. "Made me laugh. Made me cry. Made me want more," wrote one reviewer.

I'm just a little dull and naive and it took me a bit to realize how warped we really are. Like this is normal. Like this is an acceptable scenario to discuss and put down on paper. Maybe no one has every broken this to you Wanna-laugh-cry-get more reviewer, but you are a pervert who needs serious help.

Is it not massively creepy to realize those of my gender are filling their minds with this and walking around like they are normal human beings?

This is why thousands of six and seven and eight year old girls and boys are penned up to service the lusts of adults. This is why literature concerning teacher-teenager fornication is sold and discussed freely. 

Our appetites are without hedges. Or walls. Or filters. We are severely damaged. Our minds are in shreds.

But the words written many centuries ago come through to a culture not unacquainted with these uncontrolled lusts: 

Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise—dwell on these things. (Philippians 4:8)