Bonafide, I know Bro. Velours :)
When I was getting ready to be baptized in 1985, I was living with the Congregation Overseer in Arlington Heights, ILL and his wife. Velours was going to be speaking at Janesville at the Circuit Assembly and was staying with us...which was HUGE at that time you know. Like GOD staying at the house. We stayed up listening to him tell stories and I hung on every word he said. I really liked the man, he seemed to me anyway, a gentle caring person. I was in awe of him. I had my picture taken with him at my baptism on June 1, 85.
The JW world is nothing if not small you know?
I am glad you are finally finding some peace. I personally dont believe God has "expectations" of us. I think we impose those untenable unreachable rules and limits on ourselves and it impairs us. I think God wants us to live and love and laugh and enjoy our lives. He doesnt need servants! He doesnt NEED for anything. Like the Bible says...if He wanted to he could make the rocks talk.
love ya, LD