This is a continuation of three previous threads:
September
October
November
December was a curious month. It has been nearly a year, since I left the JW's and it appears that the local body of elders have finally managed to undo most of my hard work, from the last of my remaining months in their ranks.
First of all, I found out that my dad was taken off as an Elder. I guess I should be glad, but to be honest, he was the last decent elder the congregation had.
I had proposed him for recommendation, during the year before I left, and finally got him reappointed after several years of being knocked back.
I'm not sure if they removed him for what I did, for my brothers marriage, or my sisters drifting. I suspect it may be for all of the above - so much for the sins of the son not being brought upon the father.
I should probably add, for background, that my brothergot taken of as a Ministerial Servant, shortly after I DA'ed, too. Mark you, that was his own fault, although any excuse would have done by this point. He married a lass that he had started courting / "Studying" with, about six months earlier. Since she has yet to get baptised (and I sincerely hope that she never will), that was his "priviledges" out of the window. I had proposed him, too, for recommendation, some time back.
They are expecting their first child, in April, a year after they married.
Another "marriage in haste". I hope it works out for him.
Finally I hear that they have Disfellowshipped my sister.
She had been disfellowshipped about seven years ago, and struggled to get reinstated for about two years, before they finally let her broken ass back in. To my shame, I shunned her for that entire period.
She went back to meetings for about 2 weeks, after being reinstated, disillusioned. Her reinstatement made little difference to how she was treated.
So, she was out of contact (inactive) for 5 years, and yet still they pursued her over 250 miles, to DF her. In my final weeks, as an Elder, I managed to make them look pretty silly, for pursuing her. Alledgedly they put her on the "Abeyance" list, but apparently that can now be revoked on a whim. Sadly, for my family, they have finally achieved it - a law unto themselves.
Ah, well. My little nephew is a darling
I can only hope that they will all see the light!
My wife has yet to tell me about my dad and sister. Boy is she going to get it, when she finally condescends to break the news to me. It's been weeks, and still she's said nothing. In fact, if it wasn't for my sisters contact with me, I wouldn't have found out at all.
It seems that she is quite happy to tell me about parties and weddings that she's been invited to, as well as the funerals of some of my old friends. There seems to be a pattern. If it wasn't so obvious, it'd hurt...
...ok, ok, it'd hurt more.
So, finally comes the festive season. The guys in the office let me put up the office tree, since they hate the job, and I couldn't put one up at home. I was like a kid in a candy store, with tinsel and baubles, and a cute little angel
The day itself was quiet - at home, with the Pioneer wife. I couldn't help but jibe her about not going out on the Ministry, when she normally would have done, on a Wednesday
The New Year was a different matter, however. In Scotland it is a bigger celebration than Xmas and bonfire night combined. We had a local fireworks display, before I headed off to spend the evening with a few friends (my wife decided to spend a few days with her family). I finally got to sleep about 5am, after first-footing a few houses with my fiddle, so it was a bit if a quiet one really
So, I'll end this note with a 2003 wish, that it may be better than the last, for one and all.
Edited by - LittleToe on 6 January 2003 16:38:52