One could just as easily say that you are so focused on the future that you can't see the blessings in front of your eyes - no difference. What blessings? That you exist, that you "are". Life in its fullness is always now, never in the past or in the future. Whatever happened is over and done with and the future is always the future. Life exists now, which means that whatever you are in the truest sense exists now as well. Can you sense your own existence without interpreting it in any way? I suggest that that is a blessing, to know that you are, without defining or limiting that in any way. Cast aside any interpretations or teachings of what you are and simply sense the fact of your own existence.
"You are so Focussed on The Past that you can't see the Blessings in front of your Eyes!"
by BluesBrother 29 Replies latest jw friends
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OUTLAW
“Food at the Proper Time”...Or...Same old WBT$ Slop all the time.
Eat WBT$ Slop at the WBT$ Meetings.Eat WBT$ Slop at WBT$ Assemblies..
Go in the Field Service to Peddle WBT$ Slop..
Read WBT$ Literature that tells you..
You Love WBT$ Slop!!..
Become One with WBT$ Slop..
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...OUTLAW -
wasblind
Hey Outlaw,
Where's the Bitch slappin' pimp ( WTS )???? you know it's hard out here for a pimp
when he's trynna get some money for the rent
It ain't easy keepin' his Jo Hoe's in line, workin' corners, bus stops and dealin' at tables
all under the guise of religion
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OUTLAW
Hey Outlaw,
Where's the Bitch slappin' pimp ( WTS )???? you know it's hard out here for a pimp
when he's trynna get some money for the rent...WUZ
JW`s have to be WBT$ Hypnotized before you put them on the Street..
Donate,Facilitate and Appreciate..
WBT$ Pimp Daddy needs a New Pair of Shoes..
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...OUTLAW -
bobld
I think they want you to forget about their past and all their mistakes/blunters
and only focus on the present new org.
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exwhyzee
If we are guilty of being too focused the past it is mostly because we were thoroughly taught by the "organization" to use the past to critically evaluate the origin of every custom, belief, doctrine and prophecy. They hauled out every misdeed and mistaken doctirne of the Catholic church for instance, to prove how wicked and wrong they are and even go so far to say they are backed by Satan . We were taught that those who teach God's word incorrectly or make prophecies that don't come true are called "false prophets" and are most assuredly guilty of the grievous sin of twisting God's word. Yet if one turns the tables on them and looks at the origin of their own religion and uses the same criteria to evaluate it's past doctrines and failed prophecies, they say that one is too focused on the past. They'll tell you that they are imperfect men....the light is getting brighter...adjustments needed to be made, yet they don't allow other religions that same luxury. Instead they continue to claim that all belonging to them are most assuredly doomed.
It's difficult to continue seeing the supposed "blessings in front of your eyes" when those perceived "blessings" are based upon information coming from a source that time has borne out to be unreliable and man made.
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WTWizard
This is so witlesses can't compare their lives now with before they became witlesses.
Take my life, one year before becoming a witless. Back then, I could enjoy the holidays, even if hobbled because of lack of money then. I had to cut way back on new music for funds, but I didn't have to throw anything away. Then, when I got another part-time job, my time was tied up on that. However, I still had reasonable blocks of time early in the week. Once I got caught up on my bills and my main job went to full time, I had significant free time during the mid-week. Not perfect, by any means (the filthy angels still limited, severely, any opportunities for the opposite sex to the point where I was vulnerable and being channeled into final damnation--those filthy angels still will not budge). But, at least I had blocks of time open.
Jumping into the next year, my money was wasted on rubbish. I didn't have that much more money (at least my bills were getting paid this time). Yet, they insisted that I spend it on field circus supplies, suit dry cleanings, and items to become compliant with the witlesses. Gone were the days when I could simply buy a record without worrying about whether it was approved--and this time, I had to get rid of perfectly fine songs because of the witlesses.
And my time. Back then, I had blocks of free time early in the week with two jobs. Now, the freest time was during the busy weekend when they couldn't take the crumbs away for field circus. Every time there was a chance of getting out in field circus, they expected me out there and that's where my time went. The boasting sessions were horrible--I could count on a headache on Sunday night because I had to work Saturday all night, go to the boasting session, and work Sunday evening. And enjoying anything was limited to when I had a few minutes between field circus and work.
Holidays? Before, I was looking forward to Christmas. Even without money to spend or having the opposite sex (because of Jehovah and his fxxxing angels), I could enjoy the decorations and lights. I could look forward to when the Muzak was going to Christmas music for a while, as a break from the rubbish normally found there. Once I became a witless, even though the muzak was the same crap, I had to dread Christmas music. And the lights--they wanted me to view that as a toxic environment that would lead to damnation (everlasting destruction).
With this kind of change, and no blessings to look forward to (they are all fake), no wonder the Filthful and Disgraceful Slavebugger doesn't want people looking back at a time when they had material things (many actually had much more to lose, including actually being able to attract the opposite sex without those filthy angels--who were too busy ruining my life--ruining it). Many gave up fine paying jobs for the cancer. Then, they do field circus and are miserable, looking forward only to that meter of snow that is supposed to ruin the boasting session.
Focus ahead--for what? In the cancer, you simply do five activities. (Aside NECESSARY physical activities, in minimal amounts.) You study the LIE-ble through the Washtowel littera-trash, you pray to Jehovah for HIS name, HIS tyranny, and HIS nefarious will, you pretend that this is the real life, you attend boasting sessions, and you do field circus. Anything else, aside minimal other physical activities that are absolutely necessary for life sustenance, is forbidden. You live this stagnant life, enjoy nothing, and eventually you die waiting on Jehovah. Once you die, at best you are reincarnated having forgotten everything you learned but with the soul degradation holding you back. Eventually, you come back in a form that there is no reincarnation and your soul dissipates without accomplishing anything fulfilling. Is that what we are supposed to forget our past for?
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trebor
The entire religion constantly refers to the past in both the Watchtower Study and as examples for them. What the comment is really implying is to stop looking at the "recent" past or better yet anything "negative about the organization" from the past.
So how far back should we look? What are the start and end points of where reflection in the past about the organization is appropriate? What things do we include or leave out?
Would not an honest look and objective view include their entire past and all things both pro and con Jehovah's Witnesses?
I would also ask how that comment is not applicable to any other religious organization. Cannot any member of any religion make the same exact statement? It does not make that religion any better or "truer" than another.
It is selective attention to the past or-and living in an Orwellian world. You are going to have a hard (and probably wasted) time trying to reason with them.
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BluesBrother
Thanks to all for your enlightened comments, they all make sense - does not the Bible recommend a "multitude of counsellors?"
I might focus on the new DVD about the early Christians escape from Jerusalem, since I am sure that was the origin of the comment. The parallel they draw is that they are in a state similar to those in Pella, scratching a living and wondering why Jerusalem has not yet fallen. To my view it is not a true parallel, Those Christians had a clear warning from Jesus Christ himself , Witnesses today have only The Watchtower. That has at times placed time limits on its predictions, now failed, Jesus did not do that.
Of course the account is not in The Bible and Josephus makes only a vague reference to escapees It is funny how the WTS places such store on Catholic Church writers, in this case Eusebius of the third Century, when presenting this as a fact.
As for the general thrust of the maxim...
Poppers referred to not being so much living for the future that we ignore the reality of the present. A common mistake according to 'self awareness' books
trebor said "The entire religion constantly refers to the past in both the Watchtower Study and as examples for them." Very true, in fact Jan 15 Wt 2012 p31 says
"The Governing Body is keenly interested in our theocratic history ......One of the Governing Body said "To know where we are going, we have to know where we have come from"
Enough said, I think..
But I love some of your thoughts, - elderlite & talesin referred to Rafiki (The Lion King) and I looked up the whole quote :
[Rafiki hits Simba on the head]
Simba : What was that for?
Rafiki : It doesn't matter, it's in the past.
Simba : Yeah, but it still hurts.
Rafiki : Yes, the past can hurt, but the way I see it, you either run from it, or learn from it.So lets learn from the past, not keep making the same mistakes over and over again....
NB WTWizard has a painful story...I do not think I could express it like that
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scotoma
Just once can I have a blessing that isn't in disguise.
...OUTLAW