The word "apostate" used to be a terrible, frightening thing for me, conjuring images of dark, disturbed people lurking in bushes outside Kingdom Halls, ready to spiritually shipwreck my faith... How they would do this I didn't quite know, but somehow they would seek to carry me off as their prey and fill me with lies and twisted reasonings.... It was a brutal terrifying thing. To think that someone could leave Jehovah and turn upon their brothers and sisters!! How evil they must be!!
Well, fast forward to today, lol. The word Apostate is a badge of honor to me now, knowing that I have consciously REJECTED the WTS's bullshit. It puts me in company with Jesus Christ, the Dali Lama, Bhudda, and other now-highly-esteemed people who rejected the common bull-pucky and taught about love and forgiveness and peace.
I occasionally doodle the word "apostate" on paper and decorate it with flowers and curly-cues, lol. It is a beautiful word to me now. lol :)