I am still reading, dear Inkling (again, peace to you!)... and please know that I took absolutely no offense. I totally understand why you would find me... ummmm... hard to take and/or unbelievable. The thing with me is that I don't have a problem showing love... whether in what I post... say... or do. To those I know... as well as to complete strangers. It is one of the TRUE FREEDOMS that I have come to possess as a result of knowing my Lord. Now, I can SAY "I love you." I can SHOW that I love. I can wish others peace... without feeling that doing so takes ANYTHING from me. It is not a weakness... but a strength about myself that I have come to appreciate. And it was a long time coming, I must say.
Prior to the WTBTS showing love was, for me, well, "corny." Well, it really wasn't for me, but it was for pretty much everyone I knew and so I "learned" to look at it that way, too. To please them. To be accepted by them. As a result I, too, came to believe that none those who did show it were really sincere (and, admittedly, many weren't - they just wanted to appear "loving" and knew how to turn it on... and off... as they needed). Not all, of course - some really were sincere.
When I was inside the WTBTS showing love was... well, "reserved" for those I "loved" and who "love(d)" me. Meaning, fellow JWs... and those only. Couldn't even love family, if they weren't JWs; not really.
When I was led out, though... one of the FIRST things that I learned from my Lord was not only that I could love anyone... indeed, everyone... I wanted... regardless of their... or my... whatever... but that I MUST love everyone. Regardless of their... or my... whatever.
There is a freedom in that, dear one, a TRUE freedom... that I cannot describe but I am forever grateful for. A TRUE uplifting. A "load" lifted off. And my heart REJOICES in that, as well as a great many other things such freedom has taught... and afforded me.
And so, while I understand that YOU don't understand ME... my love... for YOU... for others... for Christ... for God... and so respond as YOU do as a result... it truly doesn't bother me at all. I would MUCH rather spend my time and energy hoping that one day you will get me. And explaining to you in the meantime why I believe as I do... why I rejoice as I do.. is, IMHO, something I would MUCH rather do... then expend one second being offended at things that really aren't intended TO offend if you really get down to it.
So, NO worries. And no apology necessary, none at all. We are "cool," truly.
Again, peace to you... and may JAH bless!
YOUR servant and a slave of Christ,
SA