Ashley Madison & Hurricane Katrina Mashup
Two names in the news a lot this week…Ashley Madison and Katrina.
Although these names represent very different events, the results of each are very similar.
Ten years ago, Hurricane Katrina made landfall in south Mississippi and Louisiana. Images of people stranded on roof tops and in the Super Dome flood my memory. She came in packing Cat 3 winds, but two other factors made it one of the deadliest hurricanes ever – her sheer size and the levee failures along the Louisiana coast.
Just last week, the Ashley Madison list made landfall and brought with her widespread devastation as well. Again, the sheer size of the list, along with moral failures, has made this a costly disaster. 
All manner of levee failures happened with the List. Men and women who were enticed to have affairs let down their guard and gave into the flood waters of temptation.
I have not looked at nor downloaded the “List” for three reasons:
- I am afraid I would download a nasty virus in the process.
- I take no delight in the downfall of other people.
- There is likely a lot of falsified names or identity theft represented on the list.
With both events, the impact ripples out far beyond the direct point of impact. With Katrina, people on the fringe of the storm received torrential rainfall and spin off tornadoes. With Ashley Madison, the families of these cheaters are finding themselves in a storm not of their own making.
So before we download the list out of curiosity, share it on Facebook, or engage in juicy conversations about whose on the list, think of the people who are literally picking up the pieces of their lives. I don’t think we should be taking such pleasure in knowing who is on the list.
The soul of the wicked desires evil; His neighbor finds no favor in his eyes. Proverbs 21:10
In the past 10 years, coastal towns like New Orleans have recovered and rebuilt from the storm. Unfortunately, the Ashley Madison List has caused irreparable damage to relationships all over the country.
God wants to take the broken down ruins of people’s lives – even the Ashley Madison people – and restore them. He takes no pleasure in seeing people’s lives in shambles. He wants to restore what has been lost.
“But if the wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed and observes all My statutes and practices justice and righteousness, he shall surely live; he shall not die. “All his transgressions which he has committed will not be remembered against him; because of his righteousness which he has practiced, he will live. “Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked,” declares the Lord GOD, “rather than that he should turn from his ways and live? Ezekiel 18:21-23
I leave you with lyrics to a song that always makes me have a come apart…“Lord, I Need You” by Chris Tomlin. Thank God His grace is MORE!
Where sin runs deep, Your grace is more
Where grace is found is where You are
And where You are Lord I am free
Holiness is Christ in me
Yes where You are Lord I am free
Holiness is Christ in me
The list holds lies as well as truth before anyone starts judinh people. I am on the list! Of course I just laughed. It is my junk email and has been hacked before. But if my faith in God were questionable or non- exsistant… Then my husband might have doubts but as it is as both laughed really hard. No juicy details since it isn’t a real account. Apparently, Ashley Madison was primarily men so made up women!?! That might be the saddest part for me. Satan tricked the people into betraying their marriages for junk emails and pretend people?
I do proof read but not well enough… Judinh = judging. Second as of, as it is as…. Should be as it is we. They missing from… Ashley Madison was primarily men so they made up women. Apologies!
Oh no Pam – that is a great point thought – hacked or false identities. No worries about typos – no grammar Nazis here :).
Satan’s goal is to destroy anything good or godly. And your absolutely right about those affected. Innocent or guilty, the ugly stain is there for the rest of our lives. And when we’re tired or stressed, he’s right there–ready to toss the whole thing back in our faces. That’s why it’s so important that we stay close to The Lord and his word. “Get thee behind me, Satan.”
I have all sorts of disaster but I have the Rock to lean on. Imagine those life tragedies without our Rock, Jesus. What might have rattled my marriage was a joke with Jesus defending it. I am happy Ashley Madison is destroyed. It was a vile infestation of sin… Who boasted life is short have an affair as a logo. But I am sorry it existed and for those lives destroyed in earnest or by lies.