Over the weekend I was around a group of JW's. I have not been in such a setting for along time so it was sort of surreal.
So this one older JW woman started to talk about her neighbors and their little girls and how much she liked them. She said they were a nice family, etc, that they watch each other homes when they go away on vacation, etc. Then she quickly added that she was sure the wife was going to persecute her when the system ends. It was just so bizarre the way she just threw it out there. So I had to take the bait and ask why this neighbor would do such a thing. The answer was she hates Jehovah's Witnesses. So I asked does she not know that you are a JW? She said well yes and I said and she is still really nice to you now right? The answer was yes. So I looked at her in confusion and said why would she want to persecute and kill you then? The answer was well she loves this country and thinks that those who do not support it should just get out and since JW's do not support the country she was sure this women was going to persecute and try to kill her. I just said well she is nice to you now so enjoy the time left.
I mean what more is there to say it is like they want to be persecuted or something. Also the whole time I was there whenever someone talked about a JW being sick and that was quite often it was Satan was sure testing them or that this system is sure getting the friends down or Satan is out to get us. In fact it seemed that was all they talked about was people being sick in the"truth" which in my mind showed how much stress they are under and the stress is making them sick. Also they talked about a couple of JW's who went apostate, I was thinking to myself if they only knew about me and my views now. I just said shocking is't it just dreadful how someone could leave the "truth". I mean again what can you truly say to them.
After listening to the CO's talk last night on the phone in it made me understand the stress. It was about doing more and more and more. Reaching out to be a MS for the guys, pioneering for the women, he really dogged them for not having more Bible studies as they only have 1.5 studies per publisher and throwing in the children it means that there is not enough recruiting going on.
All I could think about is how unhappy everyone seemed over the weekend. In fact the doom and groom sister even said it was nice to just to visit without have a sales meeting to sit through. OK she did not say sales meeting, she did say that she missed just being able to talk without being in field service or at the meetings but as JW's we are just so busy there is not much time for getting together.
What a sad religion.
LITS