Awhile back, about a year and a half ago, when I was starting to wake up, I explained to my mom that when the Circuit Overseer is in town, they schedule shepherding calls after lunch, not because they care, but because they don’t want to work door to door in the hot summer or cold winter. And they know that a prepared call means some nice hot chocolate and cookies or some ice cold tea and snacks. I remember her looking at me kind of funny so I ended the conversation and left it at that, and never brought it up again. Didn’t want her to start thinking I’m an apostate.
Well I found out this morning that a bunch of elderly sisters from different congregations got together for a meal from both the English and Spanish congregations way back then and this subject came up. So several of these elderly sisters decided to put what I had said to the test.
When the CO started his rounds, like usual, the brothers would approach the elderly sisters and tell them something like this;
Sister elderly guess what? The CO is visiting our hall next week and he wants to visit you to see how you are doing and to encourage you spiritually.”
Now I know this because this is what I use to say when I was and elder and I had to make the arrangements for his schedule after lunch. I would approach the elderly, inactive, and the sick. And like always these people would prepare a feast for the CO. It was like Jesus Christ coming to visit you.
Well this time, these tiny, non-threatening, elderly sisters did something different.
They asked the brother who approached them some very unusual questions.
They asked;
“Did the Circuit Overseer ask specifically for me by my Name?” (Of course the answer was NO.)
“Since the Circuit Overseer really cares for me, can he come and visit me in the morning about 8 AM? I get real sick and tired after lunch and I need to lay down and take a nap. (Of course the answer is NO)
“Well since he really didn’t ask for me by name, and since he can’t come when I really need him to come,
then;
I GUESS NOT, He Can’t Come To Do A Shepherding Call On Me After Lunch.
And I guess this has been going on now for over a year.
And I finally figured out why the Circuit Overseer’s visits to my mom stopped about a year ago.
I had no idea!
You never know what these tiny, quiet elderly sisters are doing in the organization. You just don’t know. It seems a lot of these elderly sisters in my area have lost totally respect for that arrangement and the contribution arrangement, and will not support either one anymore. Some don’t even attend the CO's visit anymore.
That’s why if you have the opportunity to say something about some of the crazy things in the organization, by all means speak out but be discerning when to stop speaking.
This was over a year ago that all this started.
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