J. Davy Crockett III

Profound sadness is the deep emotion one feels when we learn of the death of a child of tender years. It is an emotion that once gripped me strongly, when I learned of the death of two children, ages nine and twelve, a little boy and a girl having fun in the snow, sledding and doing what kids do until—they fell through the ice in a pond and drowned. One was pronounced dead at the scene and the other died a little later in the hospital, as efforts to resuscitate failed.

What a mixed up age we live in today. Abnormal behavior is promoted as "normal" by special interest groups who aggressively press forward their agenda with public demonstrations, litigation and organized pressure to accept what was, for millennia, considered taboo in society.

One of the favorite themes of literature is deliverance. We are thrilled by stories of daring and bravery, as one person or groups of people or whole armies are rescued, delivered from harm’s way, sometimes at the last moment with great risk of danger.

How often has a plan for greatness been derailed or spoiled by some careless or foolish lapse of good judgment or morals? Many a politician has met with downfall because power and prestige went to his or her head, resulting in bizarre behaviors that cause them to stumble.

Similarly, many prominent preachers or religious figures have become filled with the importance and power of their position, and the money and influence that it brings, and they are brought down by actions they thought no one would notice or care about.

A generation ago, audiences around the world were enthralled by the Star Wars Trilogy, an epic story about the struggle between good and evil. The colorful, memorable characters were either on the side of the "force" representing good or the "dark side" representing evil. One could envision a number of obvious analogies in this tale and it made for exciting entertainment.

But, why darkness? It seems that many people are fascinated by, and even drawn to, the "dark side."