This is my first time listening to one of your podcasts, since I'm pretty knew here. Something that struck me that this elder said, was that ' Anne is confused and that is a common reaction to this type of situation (leaving the org)' , not in those exact words of course. That was so frustrating to me because, I don't know about any of you but since my fade, I have never felt better! What this elder considers 'confused', I would say, in my case, was my mind opening up to the endless possiblilities of life. I've been flooded with more knowledge from books other than the WTS literature, then at any other time in my life and to me it's been exciting to learn new things! Yes, at first I would say I got a little overwhelmed, like you would be walking into a huge buffet, but once I found my balance, I've learned to enjoy everything that comes my way. I've learned to 'feel' if things are right with the Universe, and not be sucked into another 'belief' about certain things. To me if something has the smack of love, joy, peace, etc......then it can be useful in my life but if not it's out! And I can't find to many things in this org to hang onto based on that criteria!
Having said that, if we are really at peace about our dicission to leave, and we really don't care what they decided to do in their lives, they should be able to 'feel' that when we are confronted. They (the elders or other JW's) should be able to sense that there is something different about us in a good way, that there is going to be nothing they could say to us to change our minds before one word is even spoken! In fact, they should look at us and actually want what we have, this peace of mind! That is a long shot but that's how it should be. I understand calling these men on their lies and hypocricy if that's where we are in this journey, but IMO it does nothing for the cause of showing just how truly happy and at peace we really are for leaving. But of course, maybe not all of us are there yet and that's ok to, it's part of a journey. I just feel for Hobo Ken in that, although his points were valid, they got NOWHERE with this person. To me it would be more powerful to just smile and say 'brother I wish you the best and if there's anything you ever need from me don't hesitate to ask', or something like that.( But also, there is a way to confront these things from a very powerful knowing inside of us that makes a difference in how we would confront them as well.) We will not win trying to change them, or even having a conversation with them about any of it. One of the things that always bothered me about JW's is that they were miserable most of the time! Why would I want to be them? Let's give them the opposite, make them ask, 'what does she have that I would like to have'. It has to be genuine, which means it has to come from the natural course of your journey, and it will. Just some thoughts on it all........wildflower
