So, this morning was interesting. I was waiting for the school bus with my daughter, and a JW comes up to me and goes into her presentation. I was pretty tired. Perhaps a trip to the grocery store while the Mrs. was at that 'special talk' on Saturday would've been better than whatever it was I did while she was gone. Can't even remember, maybe watched a movie or something. But yeah, got to stop going to overpriced grocery stores on weeknights. A recipe for 'doormattery', to be sure. Forgot there's a good store I can go to when that other one is blocking the entrance. Long story.
Anyway, the JW asked one of those usual questions. How do I think we can solve the world's problems? An appropriately snarky response could not come to mind after less than 5 hours of sleep, like maybe destroying 99.9 percent of the world's population, with only a few chosen people left to create a new world, for example... Also I was freaked out a bit. But she seemed to notice that and then asked if she could leave something with me. "I'm not interested in your literature," I said. She asked if she could read a scripture with me. "No need," I replied. "I've read the Bible four times." She then asked what I liked most about it. "The example of Jesus," I said, "It's inspiring, how he stood up to the...corrupt...religious organization of his time, that was burdening the people with a lot of rules and regulations." I guess I probably put too much on the word 'corrupt' there, and perhaps the use of the word 'organization' in the same sentence might've been a red flag, but it's not clear if she noticed. She just agreed that Jesus was a good example, highlighted his preaching the good news and founding Christianity, and bade me well, and that was it.
Then another JW showed up, who apparently knew who I was--or so I thought. She explained that she'd heard how wonderfully my children sang at the Kingdom Hall, even the baby trying to sing, quite recently. She shook my hand and introduced herself. That, of course, was an indication that she must think I'm an unbelieving mate who just picks up his family at the KH. After all, it's been nearly 3 years, and I wasn't well-known to people in that congregation, except to the elders. Good to know there's not a massive ring of gossip surrounding my evident loss of sanity in leaving the JWs.
When I came back inside, my wife was talking to someone on the phone, but it turned out it was my mom, not the random JW calling her about me. Mom was in the midst of telling my wife a tale about that poor old sister who could barely read but spent 8 hours a day doing streetwork on her feet to the point that her ankles were swelling up from the standing all day. I often forget the smaller stories of the people under the Society's thumb. She deserved better than spending her twilight years passing out literature of that sort. But I guess that's just my opinion; it kept her active, right?
I guess the presentation approach is a little better than getting a dirty look from a JW, though--although not really. Your worth is still measured only by how you respond to their message, so...same deal, just with slightly more friendliness. If those folks talk about encountering me, it'll reach the Borg elders. Wonder if they'll have the stones to try and give me trouble over it? I'd like to see that. Actually, not really. That would be horrible. But they're just guys in suits now. I've no quarrel with them, long as they leave me alone.
Besides, didn't they read that latest Beast-Tower article? How dignifying it was for Jesus to recognize that he, too, is part of the faithful slave! He always knew, it's just he hadn't revealed it to us yet. How unsearchable his ways are!
So...two words: deshi, basara, which means, "rise up", "he rises", or whatever the Internet says it means, because we certainly don't need any research beyond the Internet, right?, and get your copy of 'The Dark Knight Rises' today. Free advertising. So there you have it. You read it, you can't unread it.
--sd-7
...OUTLAW