Do You Have What It Takes?

4/8/23

Years ago I was involved in reporting a crime against a minor (13yo). We waited for our chance to speak to the officer but as soon as the door opened, there stood the perpetrator(23yo). I guess the little girl called him and gave him a heads up as he was already there telling his side of the story. As we went to speak with the officer, he pretty much said that the little girl wanted it and knew what she was doing because she had a history of being promiscuous. When we spoke out in outrage, he countered that the DA would not pick the case up due to her reputation. Sadly this was back in the late 80’s where they had this mindset (the previous laws were more sane).

Now, I’m gonna make y’all upset but finish it out. The concept was the little girl knew what she was doing. Well yes and no. She knew PART of what she was doing but little did she know that the one part that looked appealing to her was a Trojan Horse. She had no way of knowing that the “gift” contained destruction. That along with what she thought was good, came the dangers that she could not possibly know anything about. She had no idea the probability of disease or pregnancy, she had no idea she didn’t have the mental or emotional maturity to handle it. She had no idea it would lead her to years of addiction and alter her idea of love for decades. She had no idea she was worth more than a perversion and a lie.

For those not familiar with the Trojan Horse story, It comes from the time when the Greeks were fighting a war with Troy. The Trojans worshiped the same gods as the Greeks. During the war, legend has it that the Greeks decided to build a huge wooden horse to give as an offering to Athena. The Trojans who welcomed the gift, bringing it inside the gates of the city themselves, did not know that inside the hollow belly of the horse would be Greek soldiers. This would cause the destruction of Troy.

If you think about it, life is full of “Trojan Horses”. Innocent seeming things that cost you what you could not afford to loose. For some, it was the charm of a paramour, that perfect person that swept you off your feet. Such bliss. They treated you like it would never end. Then you received this beautifully wrapped gift of “forever” only to have them show their true colors; it was too late. For others maybe it was the siren song of alcohol, drugs, porn/sex, gaming, shopping ad nauseum. Yet others lured to a new job with the promise of great money, better hours or room to grow only to find out it cost you time with loved ones, self respect less stability or more stress. Let’s not forget cults. Always the promise of a better life. A sense of family where everyone has equal power and equal say until the narcissist makes his ever so subtle move to power. Of course all in the name of love and peace within the group.

Every one of us has pretty much had a Trojan Horse experience. If you haven’t had one, give it time. But those that have had one or more have all pretty much asked the same question “How did I not see this?/How did it get like this?”; sadly there are those that figured it was because they were such a screw up and they saw no other way out but suicide. The rest of us just sit in the aftermath of our tattered mind and emotions looking around, wondering if we can trust ourselves ever again. It’s because we’ve allowed things into our society, into our hearts and minds or fill us with “mindless entertainment” that placate our innermost desires and become drunk on the wine of lies served to us by the self serving for selfish purposes;  we’ve dulled our senses There’s a song I’ve mentioned before by a group called Casting Crowns called “Slow Fade”.  NOTHING ever crumbles in a day. There’s always underlying issues that weaken the foundations.

As someone who grew up in an era where we really didn’t understand the full impact of t.v., music and literature. I can be honest enough to look back and see where my Trojan horses began creeping into the gates of my most precious “city”, my mind. They crept in in the form of words enhanced by magnetic melodies. They crept, infiltrating through friends, family and acquaintances. Their seduction was so slow it was imperceptible.

What beautiful gift is before you? What beautiful words have you heard? What magnificent bouquet awaits you? What enemy is laying in wait for you? What festering infection invades your body, mind and soul? What have you listened to, watched or received into your innermost circle, your very being? Watch out for the beautiful snares the enemies hide for you. Watch out for Trojan Horses.