Quite a while ago an older sister stopped by my door, and stupid me, I let her know my life story in a nutshell. faded for 7 years, former ministerial servant, blah blah blah. I think the reason I did it is that she reminded me of my mom and she caught me at a weak moment. What a mistake! I am still kicking myself over that stupidity because I am in an area far away from where I faded from and I had anonymity. By the way, let this be a warning to anyone else that has faded and has the urge to talk to a JW, I have now been introduced to every elder and Ministerial servant in the local congregation and I have now become someone's "project" Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggggghhhhhhh!!!!!
Anyway...
Fast forward to a the visit I received from an elder and his wife during Saturday field service. Coincidentally... I happened to have a copy of the UN NGO information available that I had recently recieved, courtesy of the fine people on this board. I debated whether or not to bring it up, knowing that I was about to tread on dangerous ground, but finally decided to bring it up and voice my deep concern. After a brief uncomfortable silence on his part, the elder finally admitted that he was aware of the NGO issue. I asked him if it bothered him at all. He said: "Not at all". I repeated in a shocked and very dismayed tone: "This does not bother you at all, how could it not???????" He again repeated that it did not because he "trusted that the Society would not be involved unless they had a good reason." I was flabergasted and said that a library card was not a good enough reason for me after being taught that we were supposed to not be "part of the nations" and that the UN was the wild beast. As an afterthought I also added that this also really offended me because I could not even play basketball in a YMCA when I was a kid because of the religious affiliation and that at the very least it was extremely hypocritical on the part of the Org.
Interestingly, I could see out of the corner of my eye that the elder's wife was nodding her head in understanding at each point I made. So then he explains that it was necesarry for the Society to be an NGO so that they "could be on the inside when the cry of peace and security happened". I don't know why, or how it happened, but for once I was quick on my feet and I said: "But that doesn't make sense. The Society has made it clear that the cry for peace and security is to be so clear and evident that the whole world will know that it has been declared, so why would the Society need to be on the inside if it is to be that clear???????????? Silence...more silence...mouth opens...shuts..."well we have people waiting in the car for us, gotta go, nice to see you again, the yard looks really good", blargety blargety blarg, blah blah blah.
I feel relieved now because now I know that the Org had a very good reason to be an NGO. They are looking out for everyone so they can hear the cry of peace and security first and then let everyone else know that it is the real deal. I wish you had all been honest and told me that at the outset. I think it would have altered my feelings on the matter. By the way, I don't think I can post here anymore...I am on the way to the meeting tomorrow night...hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!! God, I want to hurl. Can you believe that crap? The good part about it is that I don't think I am anyones project anymore.
exjdub