Elder™ sighting at work

by Scully 33 Replies latest jw experiences

• 

  Scully

  For background info: Two Elders Came to Visit this Afternoon

  So I'm at work tonight and just before the coffee shop closes, I run downstairs to get something to drink to tide me over the next several hours. As I approach the kiosque, I see a familiar face approaching from the opposite direction. It is one of the Elders™ from our former congregation. He's staring at me as though he's seen a ghost. I smile and offer a confident greeting. He splutters and says hello and explains that he's there visiting someone from the congregation who just had surgery. I ask how his family is doing and he tells me how the children have grown up so much. I share a little information about how my family is doing - everyone is happy and thriving, life couldn't be better! For someone who used to be such a Good Friend™, he couldn't even remember my kids' names!!

  He asked if I'd ever thought about going to Meetings™ - all I said was that I knew where the Kingdom Hall was and if I ever felt like going, I would. He said "We'd love to see you there. We really miss you." I chuckled and said "I don't think the congregation would really appreciate how outspoken I've become over the last few years - they'd be shocked that I'm not the same quiet Sister Scully that they used to know."

  Then he asked me if he could bring over any Literature™. LOL.... I told him that I have all the Literature™ I need and then some, and if I needed any I knew how to get it. At that, he ske-daddled on his way, and I got myself a tea.

  I still can't get over how he seemed to be so intimidated by me, and how small and puny he seemed to me.
• 

  Black Sheep

  Good on you Scully,

  I think you handled that very well.

  Cheers

  Chris
• 

  aniron

  I still can't get over how he seemed to be so intimidated by me, and how small and puny he seemed to me.

  I Know what you mean Scully.

  I've ran into Elders when out and about. Guys who would have filled me with dread if they came up to me in the KH. Yet now they seem to go into a panic when they see me. One who was so pompous in the KH, when I spoke to him seem to just shrink and mumble his reply.

  I came to the conclusion long ago that these guys were like they were in the KH because we let them. We had been cowed into thinking how "special" and important they were. Take that control away from then and they are nobodies.
• 

  Wasanelder Once

  
  Scully,

  You're a big girl now. They are intimidated by a woman who has a will, a brain and integrity. My Dad always said, "You can't be chased if you don't run". You don't empower them any more. You are a stronger spirit because the source of thier spirit is self importance. You are not self important, you are honest. Honest with yourself, your family and friends. They know they are living a joke, they know the BS they must suck up to. They can never truly be honest or they would have to quit too. They know you are free. They fear your freedom.

  I applaud it.

  Nice to hear from you.

  W.Once
• 

  wednesday

  Scully,

  when I first came to the board I would read the threads about the only power the elders or any jws have is the power we give them, ie, the shunning power, We sort of allow it by buying into that stupid game .At that time I could not believe that, I still felt I had to respect their system and they actually had rights. When i was finally able to free my mind of it all, and esp when my hubby came around and fianlly saw it all for what it was, they really are puny little men with inflated egos, and a title they want to hang on to so bad.

  So glad you had a good experience.

  weds
• 

  unclebruce

  I still can't get over how he seemed to be so intimidated by me, and how small and puny he seemed to me

  G'day Scully,

  I t's quite amazing phenomenon to experience. I have had it many times in life. Suddenly you come face to face with someone who had power over you as a child or clueless dumby and now stands before you a scared little peanut with the authority of a dead cactus. Pity wells up and you find yourself free and thinking merciful thoughts.

  There's only one game in town, power. And when you are no longer under the theocrapic™ arrangement the thought police flounder.

  Just thought of something Scully. The Elder™ was more than likely questioning you about your meeting intentions as a matter of policy rather than any interest in your spiritual welfare. After a heated argument, about 'apostle Paul™' of all things, my father in law insisted on me answering the same thing.

  There must be an instruction that on meeting with an apostate that that question be asked. I'd really like to hear from others on this. I believe that once you answer “no” you are off the radar and won't be pursued for disfellowshiping™ (an expensive option for a certain multi-national publishing tower).

  unc
• 

  Honesty

  I came to the conclusion long ago that these guys were like they were in the KH because we let them. We had been cowed into thinking how "special" and important they were. Take that control away from then and they are nobodies.

  The elders I have seen around town since I escaped out of the WACKTOWER Corporation have been very friendly. The r&f, on the other hand have become somewhat hostile in their attitudes when I greet them. It took awhile to figure it out, though. The r&f are still prisoners and toe the WT demands to the max while the elders have had their power over me removed and they are exposed as just ordinary men with Nebuchadnezzar complexes.
• 

  ozziepost

  For someone who used to be such a Good Friend™, he couldn't even remember my kids' names!!

  We may havre thought so, but really they were "ships that pass in the night".
• 

  ozziepost

  I share a little information about how my family is doing - everyone is happy and thriving, life couldn't be better!

  Scully,

  Surely you're mistaken!

  That's quite the opposite to what they tell their minions flock.
• 

  cheeseman

  Wow, I'm surprised at how extraordinarily human the elder sounded, well apart from forgetting your kids names! At least he remembered who you are :)

  In my town the dubs pretend they don't see me or know me. They cross the street, their eyes are blank, unthinking automatons who roam the houses like the living dead. It's like their memories have been wiped clean. Even when dubs I know come to my door they pretend they don't know me, like they are meeting me for the first time.

  Well done for dealing with it so well. They are so flummoxed when Satan's spawn are actually nice people.