Well... as most know, I went out to San Jose last Tuesday for a whirlwind 'tour' of the Western states.
I was to leave San Antonio by airplane, and return by van - driving all the way back, running tests on equipment along the way. (Think about the man in the ads, saying "Can you hear me now." - and you'll be reeeeeeal close.)
I was in the San Antonio Airport - headed for SW Airlines, and saw the booth that they allow the JWs to 'man' - with their propaganda spread out all over the place. Rubbish. All of it. Anyway, there was a gal manning it as I passed... and then it dawned on me to go back and leave her the 'UN letter' that I had with me.
I rummaged through my briefcase, found it, and stood up... and the gal was gone. Instead, there was this feller standing there in the booth. Oh well... one JW is as good as another (or 'bad' - depending on how you look at it), so I strode up to the booth.
Now... to set the stage, you need to mental a JW... one who is a tad 'cocky'... who tends to think that they are 'God's gift to man'... that sort of thing.
I handed (or tried to) him the printout... (his hands were conveniently placed in his pockets) - as I said that I had something for HIM to read. He looked down his nose at it... and me... and said "What is it?"
I replied, "Oh, it's the memo from the United Nations documenting the fact that the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society was a member of the UN - as a Non-Gonvernmental Organization ... from about 1992 to 2001. You might like to read it."
He sorta grinned in a condescending sort of way, and shook his head... "No thank you."
I asked him, "Don't you want to read it?"
He replied, "No."
I asked "Why not?"
He replied, "It's 'Evil-Slave class' material."
I looked at him... and realized that he looked like soooooo many folks at the doors that I used to knock on - and bother. I just laughed at him. I said, "You look like those folks at the door, who don't want to read YOUR literature."
He just kinda smirked, and said, "...And that's why _I_ don't insist or push it on them."
I laughed again and said, "You're a funny man. Have a good day." And left on my way to the airline terminal.
But wait! It gets better...
As I was going on over, I met up with the fella that I was to travel with. The engineer fella from work. He said something like, "I thought that was you..."
I replied, "Yeah... I was just harassing a Witness... trying to give HIM something to read." - said with a laugh, thumbing over my shoulder to the booth.
He said, "Oh. I'm a Witness."
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
I wasn't thinking fast enough, I suppose... all I could think to say was something like, "Oh, really?".
... the rest of the trip was uneventful... as far as 'witnessing' is concerned... he didn't even TRY to preach to me. Don't know why, either.
It was funny though... once when he sneezed, I said "Bless you!"... he said nothing. hahahahahahaha
Oh! Oh! ... the sponsor that we visited in San Jose... was run by an Indian fella... and the employees - for the most part were also Indian (India-Indian... not native-American Indian). It was hilarious!!! The owner - just before we left - gave us a book to read. Mine was titled... "Don't sweat the small stuff" - the one he gave to the JW-engineer? ... "Moving Forward, Keeping Still - The Gateway to Eastern Wisdom". The book is filled with quotes from Buddha - and other Indian prophets.
I was thinking... hahahahahahahaha... he SHOULD read that!!!
Guess what he did when we got back late last night? He said... "Oh, and here. You can have this book. It's a 'gift' from me."
I kinda looked at it for a second... I was trying to think of a witty comeback... (or was thinking 'jerk!'...)... and he said something like... "Unless you don't want it."
I said, "No... I want it. Thanks." and smiled.
*shaking head* Jws don't change... do they?
Anyway... it was fun anyway. I had a blast on my adventure!!!!!!!
Regards,
Jim TX