I was in a good mood yesterday (makes a bloody change, I hear you say). I was meeting an old buddy for a meal. He was never a Jobo. Before we met I went to the Polish supermarket for my usual bits and pieces that ASDA and TESCO don't sell. Adventurous me!
The people in the shop know I have half Polish grandchildren and they ask after them. Nice people the Polski Skleppers.
I can't abide long posts, can you? Sorry I'm rambling.
Long story short(ish). I saw a couple of trolleys (sorry the American side of the cult forces the Brits to call them 'Carts', which isn't our cultural name for them...twots).
The trolleys (there you go GB, I called them TROLLEYS, get over it), had Polish writing. I said to the young couple, 'Polish, right?' They moved like greased lightening with beaming smiles to talk to me. They really were a lovely couple. I gave the guy a big man hug and told his wife, 'I'm not hugging you, but I'll shake your hand British style when greeting a lady.'
We discussed their home towns, Polish rock bands and language.
When I said I was Atheist and could never believe in god, the guy made an assumption that I had never really noticed before. He assumed I 'believed' in evolution.
It struck me that the Jobo mindset is so black and white that there is no room for other options.
I said to him that considering how life got here wouldn't be of much use to me. All I know is that I'm just living in the moment, knowing that oblivion will be upon me soon and all my experiences will count for nothing.
Sorry, am I boring you?
When they asked me to look at JWdotorg, I said, 'No advertising, please. I just want to talk as friends, don't spoil it with religion.'
Yes, I know I'm being highly contradictory here in terms of talking to them in the first place and explaining my god position.
They gave me a brochure in English. I couldn't refuse. Neither could I bring myself to unwitness to them. It was just so nice to have a natter.
You get it, don't you?
Life is so fragile. It is to be treasured. It is to be respected. Each and every one. (Apart from the Governing body, that is. They do not qualify as human).