Aug 15, 1996 - A cause for celebration?

by Nosferatu 5 Replies latest jw experiences

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  Nosferatu

  I was doing some work on my autobiography last night and I wanted to look something up. August 15, 1996 was a very special day for me (although I didn't realize it at the time). It was the last JW meeting I ever attended. To top it all off, I gave a talk in the TMS that night. The only thing is, I never realized that it was my last meeting. I had no clue that I would never go to another meeting in my life.

  The night after, I ended up going to my worldly cousin's place where I got incredibly drunk (for the first time).

  On December 2, 1996 I got my shepharding call where I told the elders I no longer wanted to be an unbaptized publisher. When the elders left, I was so happy I was free from all the garbage the JW religion held me to. After 13 full years of problems, frustration and hurt that could have been avoided, I was happy to be on the path of freedom.

  Just thought I would relate those dates. Now, I'm just wondering which one I should celebrate. What's more important, the last day you went to the Kingdom Hall, or the day that you're officially free?
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  shotgun

  Nos when I saw the title of this Thread I thought it was JCanon giving new chronology for Jesus Third coming!
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  Nosferatu

  LOL Shotgun! Sorry, but I think my leaving the JWs is much more important than Jesus' 3rd arrival.
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  MorpheuzX

  Hey Nosferatu, sounds like we both quit the borg at almost exactly the same time. I was a baptized auxiliary pioneer. Unlike you, I have no clue what the date of my last meet was. I do know, however, I attended it in street clothes, sang the kingdom melodies loud enough for even the deaf brothers sitting in the front row to hear, fidgeted through a Thursday night meeting listening to the usual nonsense -- but this time with an open mind, and walked out the door of that kingdom hall a free man. That was back in 1996 and I've never been back. A couple of day later I wrote a DA'd letter and that was that.

  We both must have been about 18 when we left. What a way to waste your teens, wasn't it?
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  FirstInLine

  I think I left January 1996. Right before I turned 16.

  I remember the last time I attended a meeting as a JW. I had been telling my mom I didnt want to go and refused on several occasions to get ready only to have her end up screaming at me and giving me the fire eyes. I was unbaptized and after one meeting finally she told me the brothers wanted to talk to me.

  I hated the elders. They were such assholes I could only laugh. Uncontrollably. They took me in their little broom closet- err, board room and asked me a couple of questions about not wanting to be a witness anymore. It was so hilarious I could not stop laughing. I was too young to put it into words but looking back I was like, "Who the f*** do you think you are DEBRIEFING me?!??!" I just didnt want to be a part of their lame little club anymore. But of course it is important enough to them that you play their little games. When do I get to play my little games with them? I will just have to find satisfaction in the breakdown of their organization.
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  Gopher

  What's more important, the last day you went to the Kingdom Hall, or the day that you're officially free?

  >>> Raising my hand -- "Oh, oh, oh -- I know the answer to this one !!"

  The answer is "the last day you went to the Kingdom Hall", because it was the time YOU became free of the Borg.

  [Remember how we used to yellow-highlight our answers in the WT lesson? Anyhow, back to the post...]

  The second day (December 2 in your case) when the elders came, that was just the day THEY happened to pick to come and find out your intentions. That day may have been more important to them than it was to you.

  In either case, they were BOTH good days!!