Weekends are WONDERFUL. Friday night had drinks with co-workers as two are leaving for other employment. Then went to the casino and had a seafood buffet that was compd! Sat, went to dinner and hung with friends, right now, getting ready to go to a hockey game downtown. Yes, weekends are great when you live your life as you see fit. You will still be a good person. But i know you have family....((HUGS))
Is there a such thing as a perfect weekend when you're a Jehovah's Witness?
by miseryloveselders 38 Replies latest jw friends
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Doubtfully Yours
Answering the original posted question, yes, there's such a thing as a perfect weekend when you're a JW.
Actually, a "perfect weekend" happens to anyone as it is relative to the person's expectations and state of mind.
As an actual JW in pretty good standing at the time, I make sure that just about every weekend is perfect according to my expectations: I fit in a bit of sleeping in late, because most days I wake up around 5:30 a.m., weekends is between 7:30 and 8:30; leisurely wake up, enjoy coffee breakfast, then fit in my field service time; come home, enjoy lunch a nap, then do a bit of chores and later on fit in shopping, dinner out or hanging out with other JW pals in leisure activities. The next day I fit in my meeting, then enjoy hanging out for lunch some place in the City, then whatever other relaxing activity fit for a Sunday afternoon, like playing sports with other JWs at some park.
And there it is... A perfect weekend!
Remember that it's all about expectations and state of mind.
DY
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wasblind
" Actually, a "perfect weekend" happens to anyone as it is relative to the person's expectations and state of mind "
Doubtfullyours, that is so true, I don't think anyone could argue with you on that point
The thing of it is a lot of people expect a Jehovah Witness free weekend
just so they can sleep in late and here y'all come ringin' our doorbells F*ckin' up our expectations
of a perfect weekend and our state of mind
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cantleave
I suspose the question has been fairly answered by Doubtfully Yours as she is not an elder.
As an elder there is no way you can have a perfect weekend. You have to be out on FS Saturday and Sunday. Take the lead on one those arragements. Prepare to take the WT (if you are the conductor), if you are lucky you may have an away talk.
I really don't miss theocraptic actiivities.
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EmptyInside
You definitely need to play hookie from all theocratic activities next weekend. If anyone asks tell them you were sick or out of town. Or maybe really go out of town.
I never go out in service on Saturdays, well, no other days either. lol. And I get maybe two Sundays a month in,I'm much happier since I've made up my mind to fade. Yes,I have off days where I question myself,or want the fade to go faster.
But, anyway, you should start picking some Saturdays and Sundays where you won't be doing any JW activities. You can sleep in,take a walk,watch movies,anything you want. It really is a sort of high in its own right. Trust me on that.
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miseryloveselders
Just wanted to say thanks for all the comments. I needed to hear your thoughts, as always. It's always nice hearing other ex-JW, or even JW experiences as in the case of Doubtfully Yours.
I will say, the weekend has not been a complete loss. There was some good football games on today. The PAtriots/Colts game, and the Eagles/Giants games made the weekend A-Ok in my book. All I can say about the Giants/Eagles game is wow!!!!!! What a 4th quarter!! Best game of the season!!!
I hope everyone in JWN Land had a safe and happy weekend. Same with the lurkers, and even you Bethel Monitors, I hope you had a good weekend too. I hope everybody's workweek goes well, and the same with those pioneering or at Bethel, or doing both. I hope the best for your all. Those who don't post as often, I hope all is well with you.
G'Night, sincerely Misery.
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simon17
Misery, that Giants-Eagles game was awesome, true. Just food for thought. Being a JW, we've been trained and drilled into believing violence=bad & boxing=violence. But ask yourself, is watching a night of MMA with three 1-9 minute fights between two trained professionals any more violent than a pro football game? Some of those hits last night were VICIOUS! But both sports are not wanton violence. They are calculated acts of athletes that get paid millions to voluntarily practice their craft. Also, JW's will never officially come down on hockey, but they have bare-fisted fighting as well. These minor pharasaical application of the general principle of "not being violent" is just crazy in my mind. Ok, just my thought for the day... hope that Hobbs kid is alright.
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miseryloveselders
Misery, that Giants-Eagles game was awesome, true. Just food for thought. Being a JW, we've been trained and drilled into believing violence=bad & boxing=violence. But ask yourself, is watching a night of MMA with three 1-9 minute fights between two trained professionals any more violent than a pro football game? Some of those hits last night were VICIOUS! But both sports are not wanton violence. They are calculated acts of athletes that get paid millions to voluntarily practice their craft. Also, JW's will never officially come down on hockey, but they have bare-fisted fighting as well. These minor pharasaical application of the general principle of "not being violent" is just crazy in my mind. Ok, just my thought for the day... hope that Hobbs kid is alright.
Hey Simon, good post! Good perspective. I've noticed the refs during all the games I watched yesterday and last night, were flagging all the hard hits. Some of the calls were questionable too. They're sending a message. They reported after the game that Hobbs walked out of the testing room on his own with a neck brace. He said he'll be back too. I'm glad for him, I hate to see anybody laying flat out like that and fearing he may or may not walk again. Its enough to give a penguin the chills.
Has the WT ever said anything about Hockey, ever? I live in a die hard hockey town too. I'm not much of a hockey fan, only until the playoffs will I get into it. But the far majority of brothers in positions and their families are die hard hockey fans where I live. I imagine its the same in other major cities too. Hockey is brutal with not just the fighting as you mentioned, but the checking too.
Ya know something else. The WT loves criticizing violence in entertainment, but at the same time, they seem like they're getting off on the violence in the Bible. When I read about violent acounts in the scriptures, I try looking for whatever practical value can be gleemed. The WT writers seem to be giddy off of violent stories in the bible though. Even when they have articles on Armageddon, you can tell they have a real hatred toward people in general. At the meeting on Sunday, during the WT study I was in the lobby, and this visiting woman with her two little adorable kids were running back and forth, and they were so cute. I just wanted to give em both the biggest hugs. The little girl kept running up to me and grabbing my leg. Or she'd hide from her brother behind my leg. Kids make you feel good, and you can't help but smile at their innocence. Later on, I had to stop at the grocery store to get a couple things, and I saw little kids with their parents, all so cute and innocent. It hit me, the Writing Department wants to see all those kids destroyed in the most graphic of ways. I don't know how anybody can reason like that and yet live with themselves. Then they have the nerve to print anti-sports article based off a so called violence.
But yeah, overall in hindsight, this weekend wasn't so bad. I would have liked getting right with a woman. But I aint the only one spending Saturdays alone. One thing I have to mention, call me crazy, but I hate apathy in field service more than belligerance. At least with hostile householders, we get some action. It makes for a good laugh later on in the day. Otherwise we're just moping up one side of the street, and then moping back down the other side of the street. Going on RVs where people are simply too nice to tell us that they never were interested in the first place. Its sad how weekends are in the truth.
Answering the original posted question, yes, there's such a thing as a perfect weekend when you're a JW.
Actually, a "perfect weekend" happens to anyone as it is relative to the person's expectations and state of mind.
As an actual JW in pretty good standing at the time, I make sure that just about every weekend is perfect according to my expectations: I fit in a bit of sleeping in late, because most days I wake up around 5:30 a.m., weekends is between 7:30 and 8:30; leisurely wake up, enjoy coffee breakfast, then fit in my field service time; come home, enjoy lunch a nap, then do a bit of chores and later on fit in shopping, dinner out or hanging out with other JW pals in leisure activities. The next day I fit in my meeting, then enjoy hanging out for lunch some place in the City, then whatever other relaxing activity fit for a Sunday afternoon, like playing sports with other JWs at some park.
And there it is... A perfect weekend!
Remember that it's all about expectations and state of mind.
DY
Hey DY, from one JW in good standing to another in good standing, to a degree I can see where you're coming from. The one point of dispute I have with you, and it may have just been a slip of words on your part. But as JWs in good standing, we dont "fit in our meetings." We fit everything else around our theocratic schedule. Thats what makes weekends somewhat tragic for JWs. Between field service, and meetings, and elder meetings, shepharding calls, study and preperation for all of the previous mentioned, it all gets pretty mundane. I'm glad you've found some JW Pals. Me personally, I don't believe in friendships with JWs any longer. Too many politics, too much potential for a friend to get disfellowshipped and then you're no longer allowed to consider him a friend. But hey if it works for you, awesome. Thanks for your post too. Its nice to hear the other side of the coin.
I agree too, it is all about the expectations and state of mind. I guess my problem is when it comes to the social aspect of being a JW In Good Standing, I have very low expectations when it comes to a satisfying weekend.
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Doubting Bro
MLE - great topic. When I was a true believer I have to say when I look back, most of my perfect weekends involved skipping JW activities. There was nothing better than a Thursday afternoon snow storm. I live in an area that gets snow once or twice a year but doesn't deal with it very well. Ideally, it would start snowing around 4:30 - 5pm. So, it wasn't too bad getting home but the phone lines would be heated up with conversation over cancelling the meeting. The best was when it was canceled, I had a part but was waiting until I got home from work on Thursday evening to throw it together.
Hopefully, if the snow was say 6-10 inches, it would certainly cancel service and likely cancel the Sunday meeting. Then we would spend the whole weekend eating, drinking and hanging out with my wife. Sometimes, we would get together with a few more couples in the area (yeah, we could drive to their house but it was too bad to go to the meetings).
There were times that sharing in JW activities were part of a good weekend. Spring cleaning at the hall was always fun (seriously). Occasionally you'd get a positive response in service and that would provide a high for a little while. For me, giving PTs provided happiness especially if you were traveling to a new congo. The pats on the back are good for the ego.
But, mostly, it was we "have" to go in service, we "have" to go to meetings, I "have" to do a sheparding call or worse, we "have" to have the quarterly elders meeting. Often returning from service, I would feel bad because I felt like it was a waste of time. Now, I know it is!!!
Now, I still make appearances, but like this weekend I didn't go in service, I didn't go to the meeting. Just did some stuff around the house and watched football. In some ways, that was perfect!!
I know your position is tough and I agree that limiting your friendships inside the hall is probably the best move. Maybe you can hang with some folks at work, neighbors or someone from your gym? Baby steps!!