07/12/2025
Little Bit of Grit and Grace.. Sit with me minute.. wanna talk to you. .
Herb Baumeister
Herb Baumeister was an Indiana businessman who, in the 1990s, was discovered to have been a serial killer. After a lengthy investigation, authorities discovered human remains on Herb Baumeister’s property in 1996, linking him to a series of murders. 20 men in total were discovered on the property and along the highway. He lured men to his home on Fox Hollow Farm, while his wife and children were away on vacation at their cabin. Before he could be arrested and face trial, Baumeister fled to Canada, where he died by su***de in July of that same year. His wife, Julie, was unaware of his crimes, and his case remains a chilling reminder of how people can hide dark secrets even from those closest to them. His death left many questions unanswered, and his wife and family were left to rebuild their lives in the aftermath of these revelations.
Predators, especially those with sociopathic tendencies, often exhibit a unique blend of charisma and manipulation. They can be highly charming and persuasive, often using these traits to gain trust and access to their targets. Their ability to read and exploit social situations allows them to blend in and avoid detection. This combination of charm and manipulation makes them particularly dangerous, as they often go unnoticed until significant harm is done.
When someone discovers that a trusted partner, friend, or relative has committed terrible acts, they often face not only their own shock and confusion but also the potential judgment of others. This blame can add significant emotional harm at a time when they are already struggling to process the reality of what’s happened. It’s crucial to offer support and understanding rather than judgment, allowing them the space to heal.
The grief of discovering that the person you loved never truly existed as you knew them. That disconnect, that cognitive and emotional whiplash, is soul-wrenching.
I pray that no one ever has to understand this kind of pain.
It’s something I ask for every day—
that no one ever has to feel the heartbreak of realizing
that someone they loved…
someone they trusted…
was capable of something dark.
There’s a confusion that happens inside your soul—
a kind of war between what you felt and what you now know.
You ask yourself,
How could I have loved evil?
How could I have been so blind?
How did I not see it?
You don’t just mourn the person who’s gone.
You mourn the version of them that was shown to you—
the illusion you believed in.
And separating that illusion from the truth?
That’s one of the hardest things a person can do.
Because the love was real.
The grief is real.
Even if the person… wasn’t.
And the ones left behind in that kind of shock?
They are the victims nobody talks about out in the open.
They’re left carrying a silent kind of pain.
And often, they become the target of whispers,
judgment, or worse… gossip.
So please, just be kind.
Unless you’ve lived it,
you don’t understand it.
I know some people sit in certainty and say,
“I would’ve known. I would’ve seen it.”
And I’m truly glad if you believe that.
Because that means you’ve never had to learn otherwise.
That perspective? It’s a gift.
But maybe keep it to yourself.
And whatever you do—
don’t gossip.
Not in private.
Not in prayer circles disguised as concern.
Not even in passing.
Gossip creates false narratives.
It spreads shadows, not truth.
It comes from a place of judgment, not love.
When Jesus warned us about gossip,
it wasn’t just about “talking bad.”
It was about energy.
Gossip stains your soul because it’s born of assumption, not compassion.
It’s talk without proof.
And that’s dangerous.
Most people gossip
not because they’re evil—
but because they’re avoiding their own pain.
They don’t want to face their reflection,
so they project it onto others.
But you never know what someone is carrying.
You don’t know the war they’re fighting within.
And if your words aren’t coming from love,
maybe it’s better to hold them in silence.
Because love and compassion
will always be more powerful than judgment and shame.
Always.
