How on Earth did I end up here?

I didn't really plan to write anything about the recent Michael Guglielmucci situation - if you were living under a rock & don't know what I am talking about just Google it as every man & his dog has already blogged about it! I didn't know Mike personally so had no intention on thinking anyone needed to hear my 2 cents worth on it all but it did spark a significant thought process for me which I am keen to put into words.

When the story first broke in the news I was as dumbfounded as everyone else - how could such a huge charade be maintained for such a long time even to a person's closest family & friends? Watching footage of Mike singing 'Healer' at the Hillsong album recording I could imagine him standing in front of those thousands of people & thinking to himself: "How on Earth did I end up here?"

The revelation that Mike had struggled for years with pornography helped me start to make sense of it all. I can imagine the fear of being 'caught out' in this sin as the son of a high profile AOG pastor. Fear of the shame, fear of the embarressment it would cause to his family...fear that may well have led to a pattern of deception to make sure no one found out as it may well have seemed far too hard to be honest about the issue with anyone who might have been able to help.

King David faced a similar situation. He didn't wake up one morning & decide he felt like murdering a man to take his wife. He woke up & innocently walked onto the roof of his home (okay palace!) where he found the view was more than he bargained for. At that point David had a choice - turn away & go downstairs for breakfast, or take just one more peek at the naked girl bathing next door. Read 2 Samuel 11 for the full story!

I don't believe Mike Guglielmucci woke up one day & decided to fake having cancer for 2 years, but sin & deception are insidious bed fellows. I hope I can continually ask myself what 'little' sins I am harbouring in my life that seem harmless but if left unchecked could lead to me one day thinking to myself: "How on Earth did I end up here?"