My curiosity got the better of me. I looked.

I never met Jeffrey Epstein. Don’t remember ever hearing his name before his suicide.

But with millions of documents being released by the US Department of Justice regarding his legal case, I figured it wouldn’t hurt to check. If you want to see if your name is there, you can go to https://www.justice.gov/epstein.

Donald Trump’s name is there – but we already knew about the friendship between Trump and the man who procured underage girls for high society clients. Trump has denied wrongdoing – and if there is anything contrary in the documents the media and his political opponents haven’t found it yet.

Prince Andrew has been arrested. Others have been arrested, or resigned from their positions. It is a big scandal.

There are lots of names in the files of people who never met Epstein. There are news clipping and mentions in emails from people corresponding with the man. Context is important. Anyone could be mentioned, which is why I looked for my name.

I haven’t read much about Epstein or his crimes, though the topic has dominated much of the political conversation in the USA for years. I just take it for granted that humans are fallen, and those with money and power have the opportunity to commit bigger crimes.

When they do, it saddens me. I pray for the victims and hope that justice is done. In this case, it looks like that is an ongoing process.

Many of those who have stepped down from their positions after their names were found in the files did so because the documents revealed a profound error in judgement. It wasn’t the initial contact with Epstein that was their downfall, but rather that they continued close contact after he was convicted of sex crimes, as if it was business as usual. The implication is that the law does not apply once you reach a certain level. (in theory tat only applies to the President of the United States.)

I am sad that so many people are having their reputations shattered. Many of these people have made valuable contributions to society and, until their names showed up in connection with Epstein, were widely respected. Their fall causes people to wonder if all our leaders, business, political and other, are corrupt. (Theologically of course, we have all sinned. Most of us don’t have to face the public consequences of getting caught – but God always knows.)

The fallout from this scandal will last a long time. There are probably more revelations to come. Material may yet come to light to implicate more people in criminal activity, or really bad judgement.

I hope that we, as individuals and as a society, will take time to reflect on the career and crimes of Jeffrey Epstein. A lot of lives ruined by a chasing after pleasure and deliberately ignoring God’s standards.

When you do that, the outcome will never be good. Can we learn that lesson?