UNEXPECTED SUPPORT

by Mary 4 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  Mary

  Well here's one that has really thrown me for a loop:

  As I mentioned in previous posts, I have a very rare form of cancer called clear-cell cancer and am due for an operation that will hopefully take care of it. I've been an inactive Witness for about 10 years but still go to the meetings occassionally. Everyone found out I have the cancer and what's really shocked me is the amount of support I've been getting from people at the Hall. They call, they send me flowers, cards, they come by to visit to see how I'm doing - I'm really quite stunned because the general rule of thumb is that if you're inactive, no one will bother with you. Hell, even the elders have come by to visit. And the REALLY strange thing is: no one has said anything about "you should go out in service, you should go to more meetings" etc.

  There are nice people at my Hall and I generally don't blame them for all the crap that goes on in the Organization - I blame those at the top but I don't know what to make of this. Are they genuinely concerned or do they have an ulterior motive?

  Anyone else ever get unexpected support and wonder what the hells going on? What should I make of this?
• 

  pincushion

  Mary...I am sorry to hear of your troubles and wish you the best of luck with the surgery...

  That is great the Congregation is supporting you through these trying times. I have to admit they are helpful when the chips are down. But I can't help but look at the alterior motive...and that being...rounding up new 'sheep' in a way that they have a lot of influence when those chips are down. I can only speak from my experience, and that is they 'recruited' me at a very low time in my life and made it even lower in the end. They KNOW their offer of life forever in paradise...is very catching...when one has low feelings of life already. They seem to know when to swarm in like a bunch of bees and sting people with their poison. I have experienced it and countless others on this forum has experienced.

  It is up to you, what you want to do with thier renewed friendship towards you...but please look at all the facts and not just the friendly faces at the moment.

  PC
• 

  Simon

  You may have one of the rare congregations that has a lot of genuine, caring people in it. Be thankful.

  I hope everything goes well too.
• 

  hillary_step

  Mary,

  Sorry to hear that you are grappling with this awful illness and I do hope that your treatment takes care of it.

  You ask :

  There are nice people at my Hall and I generally don't blame them for all the crap that goes on in the Organization - I blame those at the top but I don't know what to make of this. Are they genuinely concerned or do they have an ulterior motive?

  Mary, I do believe that every JW congregation has its genuine, kind-hearted Christian, who struggles to do what is right while caught within a sticky web of mental conditioning. I also have found that there are also some truly appalling characters whose only interest is themselves within the congregations. In this aspect of life JW congregations reflect pretty much any group that you are likely to encounter.

  I have to agree with you that I find most JW's easy to forgive, as I do Mormons, or any other religionists. Religion, imho is a crime against the mind, it is so insidous that most people do not realize that they have been robbed. I cannot blame the victims, after all I was one of them once, but like yourself I feel that there is little defence for those who crush the innocent with the weight of their dogmas, the policy makers.

  I view the GB as my most bitter enemies. I view most JW's as people I would rather not have as friends, but decent people at heart trapped in theological Hall of Mirrors.

  HS
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  outnfree

  Mary,

  I'm with Simon. Accept the caring and enjoy the concern of these friendly JWs. You deserve to be wished well and to have long-time associates show their goodwill.

  I sincerely hope your operation is a rousing success. I appreciate your humor and your candor.

  outnfree