by JH 20 Replies latest jw friends
This always bugged me.
No matter how much you did or spent for the Watchtower, the moment you stop attending meetings and stop going out in the field service, it's as if you never did anything. Isn't it written someplace in the bible that God remembers your actions of the past?
When I became inactive many years ago, I realized that all I did as a JW was down the drain because I stopped going to meetings and going out in the field service.
Sad, but true.
They always talked about the "world" chewing people up and spitting them out.
They would know.
When your in the entertainment business, your only good as your last show. That's life.
Unless you hit the lottery and get residual income.
One can only feel pity for ex dubs that spent 40 or 50 years serving the org and especially if they had put in big hours and who suddenly find that none of their work counts. If only they had thought about this possibility early on.
True it is against all fairness to write off so much work with one stroke and it shows how diabolical this org is.
Jh- You mean I am going to get destroyed at armageddon? Oh well. I'll turn over and get more sleep from my nap, then wake up tomorrow, continue doing good to others who will appreciate it (not witnesses) and realize who really appreciates me. Peace, Mr. Flipper
One can only feel pity for Christians that spent 40 or 50 years serving the Church and especially if they had put in big hours and who suddenly find that none of their work counts. If only they had thought about this possibility early on.
True it is against all fairness to write off so much work with one stroke and it shows how diabolical organised religion is.
No matter how much you did or spent for the Watchtower, the moment you stop attending meetings and stop going out in the field service, it's as if you never did anything.
True,
I have seen and heard elderly JW's being asked why aren't they getting to meetings or not on field service as often as they should be.
I remember an 80+ yr old sister, been a JW most of her life, saying she was worried that she hadn't done enough to get through Armageddon.
"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Heb 11:6
Where does it say anything about how many hours who spend preaching, how many magazines you place, how many meetings you attend?
my dad, faithful witness for 50 or more years, went to prison for 4 years because of the draft stuff.
was told by an elder a few years ago when he was seeking comfort about his old age and its limitations, to come to the meetings, they needed the seat fillers.
broke his heart.
Think that just cuz you're gettin' old (late 80's) and feeble that's any excuse not to Regular Pioneer?
Think again.
Last week's Subservience Meeting had a wonderful Q&A part on why NOBODY gets a free pass on the Guilt Train.
I kid you not. They had an "experience" of some old sister buying into the guilt at 89 years of age (80's for sure, I could be wrong on the 89 part) and turning in her RP application.
So don't any of you old timers go thinking it's OK to slow down even a little bit.
Unless, of course, you can go to Jehober in prayer, look him in the eye and swear up and down that you can't possibly squeeze in another hour of door knockin'. Then he just might go easy on you and let you slide with Auxiliary Pioneering provided in your heart of hearts you truly WISH you could Regular Pioneer.
I know I'm exaggerating a smidge and that the WT even allows chronically ill folks to be pubs with just 15 minutes a month now. I imagine that actually did bring some comfort to some who are totally brainwashed but invalid. But the underlying message of the 89 yr old RP is GUILT, GUILT, GUILT.
Open Mind
(Exerting myself vigorously to get in through the narrow door that leads to inactivity!)
you know, i would hate to calculate, for myself or for you.....: 
the thousands of hours spent in the ministry as a pioneer, a auxiliary pioneer, and publisher
the thousands of hours spent preparing for, studying for the meetings and parts and ministry
the thousands of hours spent at the meetings themselves, conventions, assemblies.
the thousands of hours spent at Quick Builds, Bethel, Assembly Halls volunteering my labor (whether physical or administrative)
the hundreds, maybe thousands of hours spent in elders meetings, judicial committees, special meetings with the CO, etc
the thousands of hours spent traveling to all of these things.
the money lost from all the vacation days taken, the leaves of absences taken(paid and unpaid), the personal days taken..
the cumulative costs of not planning for retirement, not having a pension, IRA, 401K, stocks or anything because "the end was coming soon"
the cost of waiting 20+ years to finally go to college....lost potential in increased income...career advancement, better (less physical) jobs.
all of the money donated to the Borg that is now going to pay settlements for pedophile Witnesses...
YET, I feel really sorry for someone I still consider a friend (although she no longer speaks to me) who is a single pioneer sister, been regular pioneering for over 25 years...still doing it. gave up her youth, her career dreams of going into the drafting field.....seems to have given up any real thoughts of marrying a real man instead of a "titled" so-called Brother. She still struggles unnecessarily...i think she doesnt do the house cleaning thing anymore..but how long did she have to do that?...now she is in her mid 40's...no savings, no retirement, nothing...her wasted sacrifices are even greater than any I EVER made....and for what? ABSOLUTELY FU*KI*G NOTHING
to her Ihavesaid......you are still beautiful and smart...I wish I could say this also to her: its not to late to get the hell out...go to school, follow your dream...or at least stop pioneering and live life before you get too old and unhealthy to enjoy it and regret the time you have wasted.
So, yes, I gave a lot...but many, including her.... and many here on the board, gave so much more.... My hats off to you if you finally cut your losses and ran.
....and if you are a lurking JW...get out the calculator...the math is not pretty.
SnakesInTheTower (of the "doesnt like the New Math any better than the New Light" Sheep Class)
