The World Today

by peacefulpete 19 Replies latest jw friends

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  peacefulpete

  I've been meaning to share some recent experiences that defy the usual tropes about the 'world gone to hell' or 'people now days".

  As some of you may remember I was seriously ill for a while and had to close my business and shop. Now, as it seems I have beaten it, I put up a sign again advertising that in a limited way I'm back.

  What amazes me is how many times over the past 2 years customers and even competition have written and called to express their concern and best wishes. Just last week I had a personal visit of someone who I thought of as a rival, come in and shake my hand sincerely happy to see me up and around. Just last Thurs I got a call from a former customer who just wanted to know how I was doing. He and his wife were talking about me and felt compelled to express themselves. Over the last couple years, I've had two letters, an anonymous box of pears (we talked about our tree not producing) and over a dozen phone calls out of the blue from people who were aware of my situation and wished me well and shared positive stories about recovery. None of these people were relatives or people I'd have called friends....they were just customers with big hearts.

  I know the world is going through a rough patch and I'm not blind to the selfishness of some, but I get downright pissed when people suggest the world is irredeemably bad and that love and decency are things of the past. There not, they are all around us.
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  Rivergang

  “the world is irredeemably bad and love and decency are things of the past”.

  There is a religious group who has been spruiking that one just about forever!
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  Phizzy

  Thanks PP, any positive message is just what I need right now, I am going through a rough time, I am grieving as my wife passed away in late August, and the Funeral was on Friday. I thought I would be able to carry the grief better by now, but no.

  That does not matter really, I think it best to let grief run its full and natural course. I have been physically unwell for a couple of days too, but I am coming through that.

  But since the death of my wife, I too have been amazed at the wonderful kindness of so many people, family of course, and friends and neighbours etc, but some of those are people whom I hardly know, as they are new to the area, and other people from a wide area, and also people from my past.

  The world is full of good, kind people, who do things out of kindness and altruism, which is what gives me hope for Mankind.
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  LongHairGal

  PHIZZY:

  I am so very sorry that your wife passed away. You are wise to let the grief run its natural course.. It is good to hear that you are experiencing the kindness of people at this difficult time and it does give you hope for the human race.

  PEACEFUL PETE:

  It is good to know you are bouncing back from illness and that you have been getting well wishes and help from people! I think that most people have goodness inside them even if you don’t see it all the time. They can and do rise to the occasion.

  I never believed when the Witnesses said people outside the religion are ‘bad’, etc. Of course, I wasn’t raised a JW and didn’t buy all their hype when they kept praising themselves. Too be honest, ‘worldly’ people can teach Witnesses a few lessons about being kind and Christian.
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  Biahi

  Phizzy, I am very sorry to hear of the loss of your wife. I’m glad those near you have shown kindness. Hugs to you! 😊
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  Phizzy

  Thank you all for your kind thoughts, I really appreciate your taking the time to express them.
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  slimboyfat

  I am very sorry to hear about you losing to your wife, Phizzy.
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  KerryKing

  I am so sorry to hear of your loss Phizzy, I hope your health improves xx

  When I was leaving the org some 15 years ago I was warned about how bad the world is, that worldly people would 'devour' me. Granted, I was a naive young one so I can now see their apprehension!

  But when I was homeless, complete strangers housed me in their own home, 'worldly' friends let me use their home to wash my laundry and to shower, helped me fix my car so I could get to work and back on my feet. None of them judged me, that is what really hit me!

  As an ex JW I brace myself still for the judgement of people, but most of the time it doesn't come.

  Those people you mention, they're the kind Jesus and Paul meant when they spoke of people who would be motivated by love, not by works.

  JWs are taught that that the way to salvation is to work for it, they don't read the Bible or research outside of WT books so they cannot learn the truth.

  I've recently discovered Dr John Dominic Crossan's books by a recommendation on this forum, they are brilliantly written, not too scholarly yet with vast historical and linguistic context which has made the NT come alive for me.

  I highly recommend reading his book on the lord's prayer and The First Paul for an instant uplift in mood!
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  Slidin Fast

  Hi PP, I'm ashamed to say that I had not picked up on your illness. I do however share your optimism about the amount of simple human love and decency that are about. I have experienced it in countless ways, too small to mention but that add up to a lot.

  I hope that you get stronger and properly back on your feet and flourish.
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  peacefulpete

  To all.