Why Josh Can't Be Left Alone

Today the BTK Killer was put away for life. Dennis Rader, killed his victims by carefully torturing them according to his plan, while he received immense satisfaction in watching his victims struggle and die. The murderer was acting out highly controlled scenarios where he was able to dominate and gloat at the humiliation of his victims.

But the footnote to the story isn't just that this sicko was caught. Rader served as a compliance officer for Witchita, Kansas. A compliance officer is kind of like a policeman, except instead of saving lives you basically enforce minor code infractions. If you think about what this entails, it is basically relying on obscure and forgotten municipal regulations to harass citizens who mean little harm, all in the name of helping society.

I don't mean to comment on the necessity of this job, but a coworker pointed out a very important lesson that we can learn. Think of the skills that would be needed to fill this job: "Wanted: Individual who desires control over powerless individuals." The same tendencies that would leave society cowering in their homes are the same they would look for in their own government enforcer.

I don't mean to belittle this profession. But the fact that such a professional role provides such a similar outlet to being a serial killer is amazing. More fascinating is that once this sick man became a compliance officer, his killing spree stopped. Rader had found a new outlet to channel his personality issues.

This is a fabulous insight into human nature. Everyone is born with certain passions. They aren't good or bad, just simply latent possibilities. As we are raised, we learn right from wrong. And once we are mature, we are left to act, good or evil, each according to his own tendencies. The Talmud teaches that one who is born with a bloody nature has a choice between becoming a butcher and becoming a murderer. The inclination might be innate, but the decision is yours.

In the book, The Devil in the White City, author Erik Larson does a wonderful job juxtaposing the potential, and starkly different accomplishments, of two creative and controlling men. One became the leading architect of his day, the other a serial killer. But it's not just these extreme examples that highlight our own ability to direct our personal talents. Somebody who has a desire to take things unearned can be a kleptomaniac, or he can "grab" time to study Torah. Somebody with the ability to tell fabulous tales can either be a con man, or a moving story teller. Somebody who loves to swap information can either tell Loshon Hora (gossip), or repeat inspirational stories.

We all have Tayvos (desires), and we all face Nisyonos (tests). But where we end up is solely in our hands.