“It can’t happen here.”

Sometimes we feel like we live in a bubble. Sometimes we turn on the news and say ‘ well, that can’t happen here’. We are a nice community! We look out for each other. We know each other.

But, this past week two things have happened in my little part of the world, in my local community, that reminds us that bad things happen everywhere. No place is perfect and no place is free of problems, some hidden and some in the open.

First, last week we learned of a married couple who lived in my town and hoarded dogs for years in a small house, never letting the dogs out, never getting them medical help. Last week county officials finally got a warrant to enter the house and found over 100 dogs living in their own feces and pee. Unkept. Caged. The house had deceased animals. Perhaps over a hundred. Decayed. Disgusting. After years of neighbors complaining, and recently of dogs suspiciously dropped off at night to the local shelter, the police finally took action. What they found was beyond words.

Then, just a couple of days ago news came out that a child sex offender had been volunteering for years at one of the biggest churches near by. The church is a mega-church that has a preschool and a Christian academy. This man spent hours and hours with children. Yet, the pastor defended him, and said he has repented, and has been watched closely over the years. But, the parents did not know! The community did not know! So, it has blown up big time, and I have a feeling the pastor will be forced out, and others who were aware of the sex offender in their midst will have to go too. It happened in a school environment with boys and girls of all ages!!

Both horrible cases have created outrage – rightly.

Both cases have shown how mental health is a huge problem.

Both cases have reminded us that laws need to be followed. When they are not, truly hell on earth can happen.

And both cases prove that no place is free from people doing horrible things. Even in a lovely, touristy beach town with families, with strong values, with southern roots, with religion – like here.

It can, and it does happen here.