Guilty of going on vacation?

donny

As an addition to minimus question about hating field service, did the Society ever succeed in making you feel guilty while you were on vacation? I remember during my decade sojourn through the org, there were several articles in the magazines that would talk about how you should use your vacation to spend more time in field service instead of actually relaxing and enjoing yourself (god forbid!). There was one article that showed a picture of a family in a station wagon on a highway and the caption read something like "Are you heading off to some vacation spot, while your brothers are busy declaring the good news in these critical times?" I know it worked on my ex-wife who would find someway to "preach" while we were in our vacation desitination. What say you?

Don

Scarred for life

Yes, I remember as a child feeling guilty when we did take a vacation and we weren't going to meetings or going out in field service. Horrible feelings for a child to have. I'ts so wrong!

no more kool aid

Why would you take a vacation from meetings and service????? Those activities are refreshing! When we used to visit out of town relatives they would just insist that we attend the meeting. It was such a pain to pack a whole other large suitcase with book bags, meeting shoes, dresses, suits, ties and dress shirts. Ugh. Why in the world didn't I just say no? However in the current hall that we attended vacations reign supreme. You will be counseled if you attend a class on Saturday morning or have to work late an miss a meeting. But when the millionaire elder is missing for 6wks it's like "well, he's on vacation"! Every weekend is a vacation for me now.

Scarred for life

Oh, when we visited the side of the family that were JWs we always went to the meetings and out in field service. They wouldn't have been able to imagine anything else. What-it's Tuesday Night. It's time for the Book Study. There's nothing else to do on Tuesday nights. My aunt that we always stayed with hosted the Book Study and Field Service meetings at her home for decades. So there was absolutely no way to get out of it.

watson

Back in the late 60s and early 70s, when we were all scampering to get on the ark, you definately made time on your vacation to get some preaching in. There was not a day to be wasted.

donny

I knew of one young couple who had seasons passes to Six Flags. They would always try to leave a tract or magazine behind on whatever ride that were on. I was always wondering what those pieces of paper were that would fly out on the loops on the coaster.

musky

If we believe the bible, Then the message it contains is very important for those who have not heard it. It should be what we are 24/7. Always enjoying an opportunity to get the message across about God and his plans for us. I can say that growing up as a witness, I never had that feeling. I always considered it to be a job. Maybe that's why life as a witness was hard for me. It wasn't something in my heart. I didn't like the meetings, field service or giving bible reading talks. A vacation for me would have been like a vacation from that job. A rest period from it. I not only felt guilty about vacations. It was a 24 hour guilt that was a constant part of me. Never measuring up to do the more than I was currently doing.

Finally-Free

One time I was given a slip for a bible reading on the school. I handed it back to the school overseer and told him I would be away on vacation that week and asked him to schedule me for another date. He blew a fuse, went on a rant, and told me he was kicking me off the school.

I was not unhappy.

W

oompa

no i never felt guilty....they tried to get you to go to meeting on vacation???.....like i was gonna pack a suit to go to the beacn on vacation??.......hell no.....even if some in the group would go...i would say "you gotta be kiddin me"...............oompa

crapola

I remember a few years ago we took a trip. My husband who has been enactive for years made us take our meeting clothes and go one Thursday night. We knew the current PO in that cong. I felt so stupid getting all dressed up and going. Envious also of all the people who really having fun at the motel that night. That will never happen again!!!

Guilty of going on vacation?

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