by minimus 24 Replies latest jw friends
Mostly their wives drove me crazy. Or their kids.
But I know of a couple of elders that impressed me. I felt that they honestly did their best to do their jobs. I wasn't the type that needed to confide in anyone but they were the ones that people could confide in. Then there were a couple of elders who loved to pass on information to me. Sure I would listen but I lost all respect for them.
there was this one bro that always said "fateful" when he meant "faithful".
SPAZnic, I knew an elder who did that when I was a kid. Were you in Port Arthur?
I didn't like the fact that a lot of genuinely good people in the congregation were constantly overlooked for certain positions, while some elders' kids who rarely so much as went out in field service were promoted to ministerial servants at the drop of a hat.
What used to kill me was the non-preparation for their meeting parts. The worst was the service meeting. One time an elder was called upon to give the next part and it was very clear he didn't even know he was next up. But he hopped up and gave his part anyway which turned out to be one of his better ones, believe it or not. I remember one time he wanted to do the same thing in the school but the SS told him he would just summarize the material and saved the cong. some grief. I also recall elders giving public talks and getting lost in their notes. Apparently they hadn't given the particular talk for quite some time, had neglected to look over the material, and were somewhat lost in the old outline. And we were stupid enough to sit through all this .
Other things that drove me crazy.....How the elders all started "shepherding" the congregation just before the Circuit Overseer's visit.....How certain elders always go overtime.....How some bookstudies conducted by elders can last for less than one hour every week while others go over an hour every week......How some elders would like to "personalize" their talks by frequently picking on some poor unsuspecting brother or sister in the audience and mentioning them by name, to prove a point.....How an elder has the "right" to gossip about the flock, but the rank-and-file can't, or else be threatened with discipline......How, if the elders like you, you're discipline is mild,and if they don't, you're screwed............That's a few for now.
I am a firm believer that you can not truly understand someone elses problem unless you have walked in their shoes.
What I really found quite amusing was a young single brother going out on sheparding visits to families who had children. Here is this 19, 20ish young brother so and so who is counseling you on how to handle your children. This young adult couldn't possibly know anything on bringing up children. No matter how much you read, how much you sympathize....you can not give counsel to a parent unless you are a parent and walked a mile in their shoes.
Mrs. Shakita(dreaming of summer, with the snow falling outside)
I always find it interesting how they are programmed to say certain things but typically are not listening.
You can be pointing out a matter of doctrine, interpretation or something in the news yet they will just nod their heads and read a scripture. You never really get answers to the question or issue. You know what you are going to hear no matter what you say.
*****RubaDub
It has been my experience that "some" elders have gotten carried away with their positions of prominence in the Borg. Perhaps their day job is not what you may consider "white collar" or high profile and so, some are not able to handle the contrast in position. IMHO.....rocky220[from the give me a blue collar-man any day of the week class]
Their inability to have an opinion other than the PO's. I once asked an elder what HE thought about something and he asked what did PO say? I told him I was asking him not the PO. The way they would duck meeting parts and taking out the group was annoying as well. One time a brother came out and said he had to go back home because he forgot his bag.
Benext, The reason the elder probably asked you whether you talked to the PO first, was to see whether or not you weregoing around to get different elders opinions, to see if you could get someone to agree with you.
