Every time I hear the following song by Elton John, I have to pull over and shed a tear or two or twenty and think of all the other people like me who lost a brother whose name was Daniel...
My Brother Daniel would have turned 40 today August 6 (Southern Hemisphere time).
I sadly lost Daniel when I was 5 and he was 4 .... I still have vivid memories and photographs, yet sadly due to the religion that is called the Jehovah’s Witnesses have not yet fully grieved or coped with my younger brother’s death in a road accident.
I have never spoken to anyone outside my family about Daniel’s death as I was raised up with the view that as a young person I would witness any day now the resurrection of my dear little brother. Not a week goes by when I do not visit his gravesite at Fawkner Cemetary looking for closure or the fact that I may never see him in the “new system”. I remember when another younger brother of mine at the age of 13 decided to stop attending the meetings of Jehovah’s Witnesses, I accused him of not loving Daniel, as staying in “the truth” was the only way he would see Daniel again..... How I regret my insensitive and spiteful words, I still can pitcure where I was saying them as a teenager...
My Mum sadly is clinging to this religion despite all its flip flops and hypocritical actions for only one reason, to see her son again based on the ressurection hope of Daniel. She still says 36 years down the track "I would have not have coped with Daniels death if it wasnt for the truth".... A truth based on lies. So many people are still hanging on to this cult due to a fear factor or a "what if" factor...
How we learn and grow in wisdom with years.... posting this will no doubt “out” me to the many lurkers here in Melbourne whom I know lurk on behalf of the Australian Bethel. I have already been shunned by my family for being inactive and it has cost me my marriage for not holding onto these truths, how ironic for a religion which boasts that it has fought it’s battle for freedom of speech all the way to the US Supreme Court on numerous occasions yet does not allow its followers the same freedom of speech.
Sadly, my father who was never a JW, has never learned to grieve or cope with the loss of his son due to this religion...
Anywho, i don’t want my deceased brother’s birthday to be hijacked by my rant on this cult. Sadly I don’t post on this board as much as I want, yet I always check on the site and read all the posts and appreciate and respect all comments as I realise all our opinions come from different angles, upbringings and circumstances which sadly mould our mental character.......
Daniel is travelling tonight on a plane
I can see the red tail lights heading for Spain
Oh and I can see Daniel waving goodbye
God it looks like Daniel, must be the clouds in my eyes
They say Spain is pretty though I've never been
Well Daniel says it's the best place that he's ever seen
Oh and he should know, he's been there enough
Lord I miss Daniel, oh I miss him so much
Daniel my brother you are older than me
Do you still feel the pain of the scars that won't heal
Your eyes have died but you see more than I
Daniel you're a star in the face of the sky
Daniel is travelling tonight on a plane
I can see the red tail lights heading for Spain
Oh and I can see Daniel waving goodbye
God it looks like Daniel, must be the clouds in my eyes
Oh God it looks like Daniel, must be the clouds in my eyes
Thanks for reading this far.
Cheers, Matty, (Though the French version Mattieu sounds much sexier....)