Have you watched Sanctuary? This show features Stargate royalty Amanda Tapping in the lead role as Helen Magnus, a researcher who has lived a long life studying and protecting “abnormals” which is a variety of creatures and people with powers. You also have another Stargate alum, Christopher Heyerdahl, playing not one but two roles as both Bigfoot and John Druitt. Emily Ullerup, Robin Dune and Ryan Robins also mainline this cast.
The Sanctuary is a private research firm that both protects and restrains these creatures. Some are dangerous and need to be kept locked away while others have been hunted or are severely misunderstood by the world at large. Their goal is to protect humans and abnormals from each other. Sometimes that brings them into conflict with organizations who want to destroy one or the other.
Spoilers ahead from Season 2, Episode 2.
In a story arc that takes 4 episodes including the last two episodes of season 1 (Revelations 1 and 2) and the first two episodes of season 2 (End of Nights 1 and 2) we find them up against the Cabal, a group that wants to start a war between humans and abnormals. Magnus’s daughter, Ashley, is caught and brainwashed. She starts leading a team against the entire Sanctuary network and therefore her mother. She and this team have been enhanced with abilities such as teleportation, quick healing, and extra strength…and dangerous finger nails.
Upon facing her mom for the second time after the brainwashing, her mom reminds her of a time when she was young.
“Remember when you were young and you’d come into my room and say ‘Mommy, I’m scared.’ Well, Ashely, I’m scared.”
Helen Magnus, Sanctuary, Season 2 Episode 2 “End of Nights Part 2”
Then, after an attack from a bazooka, Ashly seems to come to her senses. She blocks a strike against her mom from another brainwashed operative. Looking at her mom you see an angry understanding in her eyes. She can’t control it for long. Knowing that an EM field is back in place that disintegrates anyone who teleports, she takes the other attacker and teleports into obliteration. She saves her mom by sacrificing herself.
We all have a certain brainwashing we need to deal with and theologians call it original sin. Sinful desires and habits that we seem doomed to. In Romans 7 Paul once admitted that “what I want to do I don’t do but what I don’t want to do, this I do.” In the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7 Jesus speaks of many things. With the topic of adultery he says something that sounds really harsh.
“And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.”
Jesus, Matthew 5:30
When we know we are out of our ability to drop a sin, we sometimes need to take crazy measures. In terms of lust that might mean we stop watching a certain show or stop following certain Instagram pages. Sometimes it means we need to take a break from hanging out with certain people because they encourage the wrong attitude or even pit us against someone. Ashley chose to sacrifice herself to protect those around her. Do you need to sacrifice something? Following Jesus does have times when what we want is not in our best interest or sometimes it simply isn’t in the best interests of a loved one.
Self sacrifice isn’t fun but sometimes it is part of life. Here is the good news: Jesus is a great healer and provider. When you sacrifice something for Him, you will have His presence, His healing, His hope. You don’t have to sacrifice alone. Find someone to talk to about it. A pastor, best friend, family member, etc.
Thanks for reading. Feel free to check out Nerd Chapel on Facebook, Instagram, and Patreon.