I agree when you say that the GB don't live to the level of a pop star, with their MTV crib. But they do have a very financially comfortable life, with no concerns about money. They are provided with nice rooms, great views, servants to cook and clean, new cars, unlimited travel, and a lot of cash in hand donations. And the adulation they receive is definitely Rock star/ tele-evangalist status. Why would you take your life over theirs?
They do have a financially comfortable life, without a doubt, but considering all of the wealth and property at the fingertips, they're not exactly taking advantage of that situation, now are they? I don't know who on this thread first used the word, luxury? KateWild maybe? At any rate, their lifestyle is FAR from luxurious. Matter fact, when I was thinking about this thread earlier, the film No Country for Old Men came to mind, specifically the gas station scene which at one point carries the following dialogue.
Chigurh : You've lived here all your life?
Old Man Cashier : This was my wife's father's place. Originally.
Chigurh : (almost spits out peanut in condescendingly humorous disbelief) You married into it?
Old Man Cashier: We lived on Temple Texas for many years. Raised a family there. In Temple. We come out here about four years ago.
Chigurh: (with a wow you got to be kidding me confirmation) You married into it. Old Man Cashier:...If that's the way you wanna put it.
Chigurh: I don't have some way to put it, that's the way it is.
I feel like Chigurh standing across from the Old Man Cashier(substitute Lett, Herd, etc.) while someone is in my ear saying, "This guy has it made. Living the life of luxury." True, their creature comforts are provided for them, and they don't have to worry about finances in the same way the rest of us do, but don't say they're living a life of luxury as that's insulting to people who really are living a posh lifestyle. I actually fantasize from time to time about living a life of luxury, and Gerrit Loesch DOES NOT come to mind.
Let's talk about the items you mentioned that the rest of us schmucks aren't privy to.
Nice Cars: Ok, so what are they driving these days? Leased? Own? Where do they take these nice cars? Travelling to and from a local KH and then back to Bethel? They still go out in FS, right? They do RVs in a Lexus? Are they driving nicer models than the average JW in suburban congregations?
Nice Rooms: That ain't nothing to brag about. That doesn't impress me whether you're talking about where they live or if they stay in nice hotels. That's not impressive to me. Room with a nice view? I have a nice view at work, and I spend almost as much time there as I do at home. Again, that doesn't impress me. Besides compared to the homes of plenty of JWs that I know, the GB's living arrangements ain't nothing to brag about.
Unlimitted Travel: To go where? Fly to a branch that's about to be closed down and give a pep talk? Literally a pep talk! Fly first class to a Circuit Assembly in the butthole of America, Detroit, to give a public talk? I can picture Anton Chigurh with Stephen Lett on an airplane as Chigurh almost spits out a peanut and then says with contemptuous disbelief, "You flew first class to give a talk in Akron?" So tell me, with this unlimited travel, what are they doing with it? Where are they going? Tahiti?
Lots of cash in hand: Again, what are they doing with it? I've got almost two months worth of vacation time, and I have not the foggiest what I'm going to do with it if anything, as I'm a workaholic. I've got coworkers telling me that I'm wasting it. That said, can any Bethelites former or present confirm that the GB go on spending sprees? Sam Herd making a killing on Black Friday? What are they doing with the cash in hand, because their lifestyle doesn't indicate they're doing anything with it at all? Can you picture Theo Jaracz with his wife discussing dinner plans?
Theo: Remember Bro.Greenhands? He wants to take us this 5 Star restaraunt in Manhattan. Says he has a problem with the brothers in his congregation. I figured if he's willing to take us to a nice spot in Manhattan, why not?
Melita or whatever her name is: You think they'll have grits?
As far as the adulation they recieve, and this goes back to your question about why I wouldn't trade my life for theirs. It boils down to the old saying about one man's trash being another man's treasure. They can have all the rock star treatment in the world, that kind of lifestyle is simply not for me. When I give a talk away, I tend to leave after it's over because I absolutely hate people approaching me afterwards telling me how good it was or how good I was. It makes me nausous to hear that kind of talk. Plus, I enjoy moving within a crowd anonymously. There's nothing quite like not everybody knowing what your name is. There's nothing like just being one of the fellas. They don't have that caveat in their lives. Most COs in my experience can't simply be one of the guys. My life compared to one of theirs, the difference in value can't be estimated.
But again, for the record, the reason I somewhat agree with Mike's post is that when you take into consideration all that the GB has at it's fingertips financially, their life is still relatively simple despite what they've accumlated. It's not entirely hypocritical for them to make the comments they make regarding a simplified life. Irresponsible in my opinion, but not necessarily hypocrtical. Out of touch to be sure, but not hypocritical.
