Wow, I didn't know you were in Hawaii too. I wonder if our paths ever crossed, whether in the South or in the Pacific. I am pretty sure I attended the same congregation as you in Tucker, although I think it was after you left.
Seven JWD/JWN years and counting
by FlyingHighNow 23 Replies latest jw friends
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FlyingHighNow
Leo, I was in Chamblee Cong over in Doraville, off Buford Hwy. Then Lawrenceville, the original. Hawaii, I didn't attend. I had been gone for a good ten years by then.
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FlyingHighNow
We are all on our own spiritual journeys, according to the Anglicans. Getting out of the WT org and getting them out our heads and hearts is like a long and winding road. JWN is here to helps us along our paths.
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VampireDCLXV
Looking forward to spending a few years here myself. Glad you're here...
V665
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FlyingHighNow
Glad you are, too, Vampire.
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FlyingHighNow
Time line for me with religion:
Birth to 11 1/2 years in the Episcopal Church. Baptized at 10. 1958-June 1970.
Naturally universalist in my beliefs. Did not believe in hell or the trinity based on my own conclusions. Mom let me go to different churches with my friends.
Parents divorced. We moved from SE Louisiana to Atlanta, GA. Mom didn't bring us to church. Her dad was into Eastern Religion and yoga.
14. I stop praying, due to family bad things. And other bad things. Become agnostic.
15. Explore Eastern religions. 16 Learn about astrology. Not the silly stuff in the papers, but complex charts.
Before I heard the song Imagine, I was one the us that John mentions in the song. I think John's on to something.
17. My sister studies with JW's. I try to dissuadeher. It's complicated and it took me moving in with her and lots of talking from them. It took the death of my brother, who I considered a spiritual leader, about 10 months it took for me to be convinced to study.
Baptized at 20.
The lifestyle took a heavy toll on me. I was deeply depressed and sick all the time by 23. Things were adding up in the Things That Make Me Go Hmm file in my head. Married JW man day after 23rd birthday. Big old mistake f'sho. He was my second husband. Daughter first marriage to non jw. Son to second husband JW.
By the time I was 30 I began to miss meetings regularly due to strep throat in three weeks cycles in my family for 9 months. Congo don't like that. It was the worst congo I attended for Pharisee attitude. Elders begin to view me with suspicion. Too complex to go into on a timeline.
32 completely inactive. That was 1991.
Did go to the meeting right before Y2k. It was so bizarre. I knew I could not be a part of it all again.
I am leaving out all the things that happened that were not good. Things that hurt my kids. They were very sick due to Rh incompatibilities. Things that hurt all of us in my family and others I knew. Then you can read 1999 on in my first post on this thread.
Reading Jehovah Unmasked in 2003 or 4 helped me profoundly. I am sooooo glad to be out. Let me apologize for typos and things that don't make sense. It's late and too tired to do it justice.
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FlyingHighNow
I forgot that in 2006, I returned to the Episcopal Church and loved it so much. I had my first communion as you no longer need to be confirmed to have communion. Just baptized in any Christian Church, but they don't check. I attended confirmation classes for the info and was so impressed that I was confirmed in 2006. Being back has brought hundreds of blessings.
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FlyingHighNow
I had secretly always missed my beautiful church.
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Lozhasleft
Thats some timeline you've experienced FHN - I'm glad you've found a 'place' to be at peace with God finally....
Loz x
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snowbird
(((((((FHN)))))))
May continued peace be yours.
Syl
