I was deeply touched by a story titled “I Escaped a Cult, and It Ruined My Life” by Rachel Mirante Saavedr which she posted on Facebook. In it she makes the point that, to JWs, "love is absolutely conditional." It was my experience, too, that the concept of unconditional love is totally rejected by JWs, and, thinking back, that may well have been the very first discrepancy I perceived between the Christ-like personality and what I observed within the JW culture. Ms. Saavedr’s longing for unconditional love reminded me of a beautiful song called “Take Me As I Am,” written and recorded by a lovely and talented British singer/songwriter known as Rumer (real name Sarah Joyce). If I didn't know better, I'd think that Rumer might be a former JW herself. Please read these poignant lyrics, and check out the song on YouTube, if you haven’t heard it:
Is there a place where all that I’ve lost will be returned to me? And is there a day the souls that I pray to are coming back for me?
Don’t tell me it’s all right. It’ll never be all right.
“WHY DON’T YOU COME, WHY DON’T YOU COME BACK?” I need a love that’s unconditional. Why don’t you try to understand?
“WHY DON’T YOU COME, WHY DON’T YOU COME BACK?” If this love is unconditional, why don’t you take me as I am? Just take me as I am.
The love that I seek, is it hidden beneath a wound that won’t bleed? Look, is there something you want, is there something you need from me, ‘cause I tell you now, these hands are empty. And it aches in my bones to be here on my own without it, watching the love that I’m craving getting further away from all that I wanted.
So don’t tell me it’s all right, now. It’ll never be all right.
“WHY DON’T YOU COME, WHY DON’T YOU COME BACK?” I need a love that’s unconditional. Why don’t you try to understand?
“WHY DON’T YOU COME, WHY DON’T YOU COME BACK?” If this love is unconditional, why don’t you take me as I am? Just take me as I am.
If you look in my eyes you’ll see sorrow rising and falling. Oh, ‘cause the love that I’m craving’s getting further away than all that I wanted.