Yesterday, my brother had his Jeep towed in to my shop for repair. About the time he arrived I was ready to eat so I took him with me to Fuddruckers and we sat at the table and drank beer for lunch. That was the first time I have ever drank with my brother, and honestly I can't remember the last time we just talked one on one. The conversation soon turned to how he was doing. He was vague, but still seemed to be getting a point across or at least trying to tell me something. He has no priveleges in the congregation, his meeting attendance is sporadic, and he didn't even mention field service.
He mentioned how turned off he was by the hypocrisy in the congregation he just left. He made the comment that he and his roommate are just "living the lifestyle and hoping we don't get busted".
At that point I was ready to jump up and start yelling at him to get the hell out and live his life for crying out loud! But just a pause after his statement. I finally took a swig from the bottle and looked at him and told him what I could. I said it wasn't my place to tell him one way or the other what to do, it wouldn't sound right coming from me in my position but I stand behind him no matter what. I told him it wasn't easy for me, but I am happy with my life and I have learned a lot of things that tell me I did the right thing.
He has a computer but is not online right now, but I told him that when he gets online that we need to talk again about some things he should know.
After lunch I dropped him off at the theatre across the street and went back to work. When I finally was finishing his repair (ought to slap him for neglecting that piece of junk jeep like he has) he told me about how he lost his priveleges.
Seems a "sister" he had a fling with suddenly got an "attack of conscience" [his sarcastic term] about a year later. She didn't even know his last name, but the story was told. So her elders really busted their asses to track him down and somehow managed to.
Well the investigation managed to locate him but instead of the elders coming to him, a grown man living on his own, an elder called our parents and told them everything and made them get in touch with him. The way he told it, sounds like that really pissed him off because when I said that's the wrong way to do it he agreed and said yeah that really sucks.
Well, before he left I told him we need to talk some more and urged him to come over. So I'll wait and see.
Poor kid's gonna get worse before he gets better. But he's got a good head on his shoulders and it looks like he's got my independent streak. I shouldn't be getting my hopes up, I know. But I miss my family so much and now I may get to actually have my brother as a friend.
Y'all all pray for him and hope with me.
And for you "monitors" who may be thinking about using this post to bust him, don't even bother. He didn't say anything and I'll back him up on that. You know the drill, assholes, TWO OR MORE WITNESSES! Try and start something with this, and I will show you just what a first class clusterfuck I can create!
For the rest of you nice folks, please excuse that and have a good night.
mike.
911 is the number you call AFTER the shots are fired.