She had the nerve to spend her once in every several years talk with me TELLING ME I WAS SELFISH and CAUSED MISERY because of my disfellowshipping.
Dan, I got this too. I was told about 9 years ago during an angry public confrontation with my brother that I was causing my mother all sorts of depression and ailments because of my disassociation. I told my brother I never told my family to quit talking with me. That's their choice.
I can certainly understand your anger. You can let it out here safely because we all understand it. Your sister is making you the scapegoat for all the misery in her life rather than looking at the real cause. Next time you should reply, "Why do you continue to shun me if it hurts you so much? I'm only a phone call away the next time you are miserable."
Yeah, it hurts and you are angry, so let it out. Work through it with us. There are things you can say to vent here, so that when they do talk to you, you don't take it out on them. I have actually had some nice conversations lately, with one or more family members who shall remain nameless, that did not involve finger pointing or hurtful words. I see this as progress.
To get into Bethel means you are special...they can clean toilets for jesus, remember the scripture about one of the prostitutes cleaning Jesus toilet and jesus forgave her for being a prositute?
Not making light of your anger........only seething in it.
And OBTW, my use to be best friend was a Bethelite...she was the harlot in the Creation book......
If you were an active, believing JW, conditioned to feel that Armageddon is going to break out at any moment, wouldn't you feel "extra safe" serving at headquarters?
In a religion that is constantly measuring the performance of its adherents, and constantly asking its adherents to "examine themselves" to see if they can "make room" to "do more", what better way to be certain that you really are doing enough.
What better way to minimize, to the greatest possible extent, your contact with non-JW's, thereby preventing the inevitable cognitive dissonance that comes with such interactions? "Thanks coworker, you're always so nice" (too bad you're toast at Armageddon)
Dan, take it, one step at a time. Your depriving yourself of happiness and good health by getting to involved. Put yourself in your sister's shoes, how would you feel and react?
Have you ever read, Eccl 7:21? "Also, do not give your heart to all the words that people may speak, that you may not hear your servant calling down evil upon you. For your own heart well knows even mant times that you, even you, have called down evil upon others."
I have six brothers and five sisters. Believe me , I could tell you stories.
