Stalker - Season 1, Episode 5 ("The Haunting")

Episode Summary: "While investigating a series of eerie threats, the TAU team discovers the victim's house has a creepy history and is believed to be haunted. When the danger turns deadly, the team spends Halloween night searching a wild costume party looking for a perpetrator long believed to be dead."

I watched this episode on Halloween night and, one might think the obvious "lesson" to be discussed with regard to this episode of "Stalker" is the haunting and Halloween and general "evil-ness" portrayed and how we should steer clear of this.

But I am leaning in another direction.  (**Spoiler Alert**)

The relationships on this episode intrigued me:

1. Jack Larsen (Dylan McDermott) has his first interaction with his son, Ethan (Gabriel Bateman) during Halloween trick-or-treating.

Although the writers are keeping their hand hidden regarding the history between Jack and Ethan's mom, Amanda Taylor (Elizabeth Rohm), and why Amanda won't let Ethan know that Jack exists (and I'm sure there's something there), we do see that Jack is pursuing a relationship with his son... sometimes to creepy lengths.

This leads me to think on God's relentless pursuit of us in spite of the fact that we come to Him with empty1 hands (Isaiah 64:6), completely undeserving of His love.  Thank God that He is a gracious and loving Father to His children.

2. Greg Miner (Kevin Sizemore) is "haunting" the house where his wife died because he wants to maintain a connection to her.

The loss of a loved one is difficult, but Greg took the grieving to a whole new level of crazy.

This leads me to think on our connection with our loved ones.  My mother died in 2004 and I took immense comfort in God's promise of eternal life (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).  Thank God that we have an eternal hope.

That being said, hope is only for those that have a placed their faith in the work of Christ.  Is there anyone you know who does not have that eternal hope who needs to know of God's saving work?

3. Janice Lawrence (Mariana Klaveno) makes a trip to Jack's house toward the end of the show.

Janice tells Jack that she's there, not for a "booty call", but because he needs a friend.

This leads me to think on God's command for us to show love to our neighbors (Mark 12:31).  I'm not advocating splitting a six-pack with your coworker in a single night, but I do believe God's heart on this matter is clear: show kindness to others.  Is there anyone in your life who is hurting and needs a friend?  How can you show God's love to them?

4. Perry Whitley (Erik Stocking) continues his obsession with Beth Davis (Maggie Q) and discovers that she has a hidden past.

Perry discovers that Beth is not "Beth's" real name -- it's Michelle -- and her family was killed in a house fire; when interacting with Beth at the Halloween party, he makes a subtle reference to this.  This interaction with Perry unsettles Beth and she calls a mental institution to make sure that an unnamed detainee is still in the institution and that he hasn't had any visitors.

This leads me to contemplate the truth that we live in a fallen world, full of evil that threatens and, often times, frightens us.  In this, I am comforted by God's protection in my life (Psalm 5:11).  It also reminds me to turn over my fears to Him (Matthew 6:27; 1 Peter 5:7).

[Photo Credit: http://www.seat42f.com/stalker-season-1-poster.html]