My sudden entrance back into the world of singleness has left me a little bewildered. I’m only 34, so it’s not like I’m elderly. Apparently sending pictures of various organs or fully nude is commonplace. So common in fact that a 69-year-old couple was looking for a threesome and sent out their pictures. Now they are being blackmailed. Did I miss something? I was married, not in a coma! At 69, you should be baking cookies and taking your grand-kids fishing. Not looking for a third wheel.
This issue is so rife that an industry was born from it. There’s a syndicate of professional con-artists that apparently lure people into sending them pictures or if you don’t send it but chat with them, they fabricate conversations and blackmail you. Let’s be fair, the syndicate is not the issue here. There’s a deeper problem with society in general and the syndicates are capitalizing on it. The blackmail is a symptom and not the root cause.
Don’t be fooled by sweet words
There’s a reason why sex is referred to as being intimate. It’s literally the most intimate thing that a couple can do. Your partner sees you, all of you. Every blemish, every scar, EVERYTHING! That’s why it’s reserved for marriage.
You should only be intimate with someone that’s willing to stand in front of your family and friends, spend a heap of money and vow before God Almighty that they are committed to you until their last breath. This is proof of their commitment. Not some goat that says they love you. Words are meaningless, talk is cheap. Put your money where your mouth is. Prove it, marry me! I think that’s fair.
The dangers of captured nudity
As for this issue of sending nude pictures. If this is what’s required in the “dating world” of this generation, then I’ll die alone. I’m not pandering to this insanity. I’ve already talked about intimacy being reserved for marriage, but frankly, why on earth would you send a nude picture to anyone?
Irrespective of whether you’re married or not. Listen, if your significant other is the human equivalent of Dory then here’s my suggestion. You say, “Love, I know you can’t remember jack! If ever you forget what it looks like, let me know & I’ll let you sneak a peek. No stress, I got you covered!”
Let me tell you something, I WAS MARRIED for 8 years, 8 months and 25 days. In a blink of an eye, my whole world came crashing down on me. You don’t know people, in an instant everything can change. God forbid it should happen to you and the person you trusted with your life now has incriminating pictures as well.
Before you stone me….
My intention with this post is not to come here on a high horse and dictate any moral superiority. Far from it, I have made countless blunders that I’m ashamed of. We all make mistakes. It seems like this topic is taboo and no one is discussing it. Victims are blackmailed in silence or publicly humiliated. Even if it is commonplace, no one stands by them and says, they’ve done it as well. Have you heard the saying, “Does art imitate life or does life imitate art?” I believe that it’s a vicious cycle.
In an effort to be edgy, funny and memorable; Hollywood pushes the envelope on socially acceptable behavior in media. Keep in mind that this may be the values of a minority in Hollywood, however, they have the resources to broadcast to society. Society picks up on it, the seed is planted and then bears fruit. And Hollywood pushes the boundaries further. So society is descending into anarchy, one sitcom at a time.
Guard your reputation with your life
Your reputation takes years to develop and can be destroyed in an instant. God has a plan 
for your life, the Bible talks about humble beginnings:
Your beginnings will seem humble, so prosperous will your future be. – Job 8:7
The reason why God loves working through humble beginnings is that we all love an underdog story. How many great men and women have fallen from grace because of a mistake that was made during their humble beginnings? Guard your reputation and you’ll safeguard your destiny.
And the prude of the year award goes to….
If you’ve read all this and think I’m a big prude. Thank you, I’ll walk up that stage and accept the “Prude of the Year Award” with great pride. I’d like to thank God for his grace. Thank you to my family and friends for supporting me. And to my one and only fan, my 5-year-old daughter, Kristin. Love you baby. Peace Out!
My goal is to emulate Jesus and follow his example but if all else fails, I’ll be like David. A writer, a man after God’s own heart and someone not to be trifled with.
I believe in discussing life in a candid (unfiltered), no holds barred manner that stimulates personal growth.
I spend my spare time creating content that is informative, entertaining and that will help others in their personal development.
The Hustle is a project that focuses on career and purpose.
I also have a cooking vlog called Passing it on which is on Facebook and YouTube.
In matters of faith, I contribute to this ministry.
Great post! It’s sad how society cheapens something that is so sacred.
Thank you. Absolutely and it leads to self-destruction if you don’t respect it.