I’ve rewritten this letter more times than I care to admit.
Perhaps you’ve caught wind of the recent national news coverage regarding two missing women from Kansas. For me, it wasn’t just a story hitting close to home; it hit home.
It all began when my husband quietly slipped into bed one Sunday morning after a grueling shift. “You won’t believe what’s happened,” he whispered, careful not to disturb our sleeping daughter.
“Two women abducted,” I responded. “And it doesn’t look good,” I added.
As the investigation unfolded, I found myself ahead of the public, not because my husband walked the scene of the crime or remained part of the investigation, but because of vivid visions that haunted me. Scenes played out in my mind, like fragments of a disturbing movie, etching themselves onto my soul.
When official details were released, I found myself filling in the blanks, seeking confirmation from my husband, who, in his role as a deputy, was involved in the case. And he confirmed it all. The details of what I saw through spiritual eyes matched what investigators knew about the incident.
There’s much more to this story, but this paints the backdrop for what I want to share.
You see, for years, I’ve been drawn to crime dramas like Criminal Minds. Despite its darker themes in later seasons or surviving threats from a partner experiencing a psychotic break, I couldn’t tear myself away. From childhood dreams of becoming a forensic detective and favorite book series like Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys, my passion for justice has always burned bright.
But something shifted with this case.
That Saturday night, hours before I’d heard the gruesome details of the abduction, I started to stream Criminal Minds, like I did every night. But that night, the Holy Spirit urged me to turn it off. “Not tonight. This is real,” the voice echoed within.
Fast forward two weeks. I found myself dropping off my husband at work, only to be met with a scene straight out of the crime drama—OSBI trucks packed the parking lot, more deputies swarmed the station than I’d ever seen at a given time, and the air was thick with anticipation of danger. “They’re expecting a firefight,” my husband warned.
As I drove away, the weight of those words hit me like a ton of bricks: “This is real. Don’t watch this.”
I couldn’t shake the thought of the families torn apart by tragedy, the pastor grappling with the loss of his wife, the people I attend church with every week who’d gone to school with these women. Yet amid the darkness, I clung to the hope of eternal life, a beacon during such despair.
I watched the press release with tears in the corners of my eyes, recalling the endless staged press releases I watched on the show. This could have easily been another episode of the series I’d mindlessly consumed, time that could have been better spent fulfilling God’s purpose for my life. Instead, I had found entertainment at the expense of real pain, a realization that shook me to my core.
In Psalm 119:37, the poet cries out, “Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, and revive me in Your way.”
As I dreamed about the future of Verse & Vine, a publishing partner reminded me of the power of the content we produce and the responsibility that comes with it.
We invest countless hours poring over your words, thoughts, and ideas. And your readers will do the same.
I urge you to guard your hearts and uphold a standard of holiness in your work.
Writing holds immense power—it can shape minds, stir emotions, and leave lasting marks on the soul. We’re taught in scripture that our words hold the power of life and death (Prov. 18:21). This power demands great responsibility. Like detectives piecing together clues, we delve into the depths of our hearts and minds to craft narratives that explore what it means to be human—and what it means to wrestle against supernatural forces.
So be mindful of the impact your words can have. Infuse your stories with integrity, let your characters grapple with moral dilemmas, and strive for growth. Seek truth, empathy, and compassion in your storytelling.
Guard your heart against cynicism and negativity. Surround yourself with uplifting influences that inspire you to shine light into the darkest corners of humanity.
Write with purpose. Let your words reflect the light within you. May your stories resonate with authenticity, leaving readers with a sense of wonder, understanding, and perhaps, a touch of grace.
When the barrage of graphic vignettes hit me, I prayed, not knowing what else to do. I wanted to dial my prophetic nature down a hundredfold. This gift felt more like a curse. That’s when a spiritual father reminded me that when this happens, it’s imperative to seek the Lord’s guidance; furthermore, we must release the burden we bear into His capable hands. We aren’t meant to carry that ourselves.
In that moment of release, I received the understanding I sought. God allowed me to feel and to see those horrific moments so that, through writing, I might urge fellow believers to stand boldly in the face of fear. Though thousands may surround us, even more surround them (2 Kings 6:16).
While shows like Criminal Minds might serve as entertainment—it is real. There is a real war at our doorstep, even within our homes. Rather than find entertainment at the expense of victims, I want my words and anything I create to cascade the face of evil with the radiant countenance of my El Shaddai and El Gibbor.
Friends, if we are called to be holy, for He is holy (1 Pet. 1:16), let us hold our words to that same high standard and set our books apart from what is worthless and readily available in this world.
—Samantha Carpenter-Gregoire