I was thinking the other day about how I use to marvel at the idea of being on a CA or DO program! When I was starting to get myself together so to speak I wanted to be one of those guys always giving the powerful talk to shut the assembly down. The one talk every spoke about in the car ride home. However as soon as I started to participate I realized it wasn't the priveledge it appeared to be. The level of rules etc are crazy and some of the counsel I received beforehand was insane. The words others heard as well. For instance:
1. My friends wife was told she would have to get shorter brainds so as not to set a trend amongst the others
2. In the mid-2000's you needed a relaxer or a shorter fro my sister. We do not want anyone thinking we are associated with the Black Panther party... (followed by uncomfortable laughter)
3. I was told off because mI had 17 seconds left in my Bible reading and that I could have stretched out the reading. I seemed unprepared because I did not utilize ALL MY TIME
4. The same Black C.O. that refused our coat told another friend of mine, calm down with the drramatics, the white brothers dont play those games.
5. My Dad was told his hightop dress shoes where inappropriate the DAY OF THE CONVENTION and he had to borrow someone else's shoes 15 minutes beforehand. (You know those dress shoes that look like boots but only if you dont have pants on).
6.Me and My sister were cutout of an assembly part about our family because I was not baptized and neither was my sister... the rest of the family was still there. WTF
7. The ultimate slap in the face. I was scheduled to give my experience on how I overcame sickness and a harsh work schedule and continued seeking first the kingdom and was blessed. The practices for the part as you know at a distant kingdom hall. Over and over again for months. The day comes for the part, and just 1 hour before the district overseer pulls me and the brother who would be interviewing us into the official room at the D.O. convention and says, "There is a missionary couple that has come here from their assignment visiting family. Many in the district know them and I think it would be great if they were interviewed instead since they are in full-time services." I sat there fuming thinking oaf all the time I wasted practicing for this bullshit. Even the brother who was interviewing me thought it was a little rash and that it was probably not the best idea. But of course big WILLY's decision was final.
Fortunately my wife says example 7 stuck with her for years after it happened because it was the ultimate in favortism. She said it always left a bad taste in her mouth. I realize how much of a freaking dummy I was to really think that GOD had anything to do with anything that men do. I also realize i was an idiot for allowing myself to be reamed by these people all the while thinking it was a priveledge
Please please share some of your experiences as well, I would like to feel like aI wasnt the only idiot who fell for the okie doke