You’d think growing up in a small town called Friendship would have some form of safe places, security in relationships, and fond memories of loving the land. But as many already know, growing up in a rather small to medium town or city doesn’t shelter one from the reality of dysfunction, abuse and addictions. In fact, when there is a place where everyone knows your business and you get pegged and labeled at an early age the odds are stacked against you to have positive life outcomes where intellectual, emotional, relational and maybe even the spiritual is up and to the right? What I have discovered in counties and towns like this, is the propensity to create an image, put on a façade, and keep up with the Jones’ all the while resisting any type of vulnerability or transparency! The funny thing is those prior motivations for “keeping up appearances” actually have a way of repelling others, while the characteristics of transparency actually draws us towards one another. For the last couple years I have had the privilege of traveling (and zooming 😊) with many people regarding the topic of the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC). What you say?!? That doesn’t happen in our county! I can tell you that it most certainly does, especially with the onslaught of various Apps and social media outlets that have surfaced over the last few years.
Think about it, online predators are willing to take their time in grooming young, impressionable, and innocent boys and girls (tweenagers and teenagers alike!). Young people who want nothing more than to “get outta this one horse town” with a desire to move upward and onward to bigger and better things. With things like poverty, tension with parents, looking for value and affirmation and acceptance from anyone anywhere – why wouldn’t those from a small town be a great target? As we continue to travel and talk about the coercion, force and fraud of human trafficking I wonder – ARE YOU AWARE OF THE POTENTIAL WOLVES IN YOUR LIFE? Exploitation often happens from those we know, that are already in the sphere of our relational influence. While force is certainly a tactic used in domesticating young persons, there is an incredible rise in coercicn and frauding some as young as 7 or 8 years old who get introduced into “The Life.” For many of us who care about our youth and the substances they abuse as a way to medicate or escape from the pain and hurt they have experienced, we must take a more active role in becoming more Aware and knowledgeable about this underbelly of our county. Perhaps taking more steps to be Trauma Informed, and then also learn how to support Survivors of such a crime. Together we are better as we learn to build resiliency in our communities. Isn’t it time to set aside the created image, deconstruct the façade, and desist with the comparison trap? I hope and pray that you are with me in this!
Al Meyers (I am Little Red/CSEC facilitator through CCA)
Think about it, online predators are willing to take their time in grooming young, impressionable, and innocent boys and girls (tweenagers and teenagers alike!). Young people who want nothing more than to “get outta this one horse town” with a desire to move upward and onward to bigger and better things. With things like poverty, tension with parents, looking for value and affirmation and acceptance from anyone anywhere – why wouldn’t those from a small town be a great target? As we continue to travel and talk about the coercion, force and fraud of human trafficking I wonder – ARE YOU AWARE OF THE POTENTIAL WOLVES IN YOUR LIFE? Exploitation often happens from those we know, that are already in the sphere of our relational influence. While force is certainly a tactic used in domesticating young persons, there is an incredible rise in coercicn and frauding some as young as 7 or 8 years old who get introduced into “The Life.” For many of us who care about our youth and the substances they abuse as a way to medicate or escape from the pain and hurt they have experienced, we must take a more active role in becoming more Aware and knowledgeable about this underbelly of our county. Perhaps taking more steps to be Trauma Informed, and then also learn how to support Survivors of such a crime. Together we are better as we learn to build resiliency in our communities. Isn’t it time to set aside the created image, deconstruct the façade, and desist with the comparison trap? I hope and pray that you are with me in this!
Al Meyers (I am Little Red/CSEC facilitator through CCA)
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