YOUR DAILY JOURNAL (page 92)

compound complex

Dear Dave,

As I sign off for the evening, I want to thank you for your support through words of friendship.

Wishing the best for you as you sojourn through this new experience.

Till the next time,

CoCo

Backsliders are often treated with thinly-veiled contempt by church elders. Typically giving even the harshest and least sympathetic characters in this human tragicomedy called life the benefit of the doubt (a major doubt), I, with characteristic naivete, believed that the church leaders were simply doing their duty in protecting the flock by ousting those renegade members of the church. Scripture seemed rather clear on the care and protection of the flock. Our leaders were like the faithful men of old - morally pure and resolute in their promotion of "The Way." "The Way" or the highway.

So I believed - until Guy opened my eyes to the reality of church politics. At one time he was "one of them" - a shepherd over the flock. He fulfilled his pastoral duties with the utmost seriousness. His church-related responsibilities became his life's work, in truth, his focal point, to the exclusion of all else ...

compound complex

Some of these backsliders left the so-called Highway of Holiness and treaded their way back to the path earlier abandoned when they had become true-believers. This former companion - the Biblical broad and spacious road - was relentless but patient when beckoning to the unsteady, weaker church members. They received soothing and convincing reassurance that their returning to the old ways could be effectively reconciled with their ambivalence toward the loudly-proclaimed spiritual agenda of the fellowship. The self-righteous true believer, however, would never admit that these forbidden practices and pleasures were ever truly forgotten, expunged from heart and mind.

Whatever one's footing in the church, Temptation was not a respecter of persons; she merely used greater persuasion to cajole her more religious, long-lost children into returning home.

compound complex

YOUR DAILY JOURNAL

Hope4Others

I want to thank you for your support through words of friendship.

I want to thank you Coco for your wonderful and well written story.....to be able to express
oneself is truly a gift.

Cheers & Good Night,

hope4others

Sad emo

Dear journal

My degree course is all finished (except for possible resits!)

I'm frazzled so am just going to spend the weekend doing nothing now.

My temp work is affecting my health. My breathing 'rattles', my finger joints and elbows are sore and I have tingling pain in my toes - guess thats because I'm standing all day long. I hope I hear about the other job soon - one of my references has been away on holiday this week so there's been a delay.

Have a good weekend all.

compound complex

YOUR DAILY JOURNAL

Hope:

Thanks for your words of encouragement. There are stretches when the words simply flow. On other occasions, my nose is stuck in the dictionary: stop/go/stop/go ...

I'm still learning ...

Emo:

Stay well. I hope another job - a less taxing one - comes through for you ...

Inland Revenue, mayhaps?

CoCo

Sad emo

Inland Revenue, mayhaps?

Lol - Believe it or not I did apply for a job with them - and the Employment/benefits office...

I was too bright for them though!

Octarine Prince

My spirituality is making some progress.

My animal ken is returning.

The deer watched ME. Twice. I said "Hi!"

And a bird was waiting for me to feed it. Not a damn pigeon. A SPARROW.
Yeah, it's serious.

I'm back.

compound complex

YOUR DAILY JOURNAL

Thank you, emo and o. prince, for sharing your day and experiences with us ...

Till the next time,

CoCo

YOUR DAILY JOURNAL

Share this