The Fall

Reflection on The Fall. The BBC series depicting the actions of serial killer Paul Spektor. Paul’s reaction to pain: People want to cause you pain. The antidote to this pain is to cause them pain and train oneself to receive joy at the expense of another’s pain. Turning their pain around to your joy relieves your pain. Sounds nice, doesn't it? The following is a series of thoughts Iv'e had after watching The Fall. People want to cause pain. Sin nature’s desire is to cause pain and prevent pain from reaching the core of the soul. Jesus want’s to relieve pain. If people want to cause me pain and Jesus wants to relieve me of pain. Then all my allegiance is owed unto Christ.

If people want to cause me pain, am I capable of preventing it? Does Jesus provide the tools to prevent me from feeling the pain and allow me to stop the pain from reaching my core? Sometime’s people’s aim is to cause pain to other human beings. Those without Christ are relentlessly, and instinctively causing pain. If I remember that, I am relieved from the pain caused by unsaved individuals.

Ive come to the conclusion through thought and life experiences that the most pain in my life has and will be caused by those following Christ. After that thought I realize that Christ asks us to meet as believers in a community he called the church. Why should I step into community with those people who can, solely, cause me pain? They can hurt me, but Christ can eliminate that pain. He has taken it upon himself to the cross where it is buried with Christ in a deep grave. He rose, but left all our suffering behind him. Because he suffered, he alone knows what it is like to feel each stab of hurt, betrayal, insignificance, and loneliness.

"Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved." Psalm 55:22 Jesus will sustain my heart through pain. He will keep me from moving to the place of no hope. Life without hope is the definition of pain.

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." -Jesus Matthew 11:28-29 Jesus provides the calm within the pain. The rest when there humanely seams to be none.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7 Peace is the antidote and shield for pain. Peace will not allow pain to reach your core. Because pain is a thing of the soul allowed in by the mind, we must allow Christ to be the guardian of our mind.

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:6-7 Jesus is the only person who can painlessly care for us. The only one we can safely let in. He is the only one who will not let me down. And because he is such, I will do as he asks and associate with believers. I will rely on them, although they do not always follow the ways of peace. I will do so remembering that I too am capable and culpable for pain caused within the church. This is something I have personally been struggling with. I find it easy to be friends with and love non-Christians. It is Christians whom I fear and hold at a distance. Those who openly welcome me into their arms turn around and desert me. This hurts. But because Jesus says it is the way to live then I humble myself and submit.