Interesting story, Terry. What a surreal experience to see these misguided people thirty years after your breakaway. I can relate to what you said, being out four years, but 30 years...wow! What a rich day that must have been for you.
new light
JoinedPosts by new light
-
49
I ATTENDED A JW FUNERAL YESTERDAY---WOW!
by Terry inback in 1959 i became best friends with a fellow who was instrumental in my becoming a jehovah's witness.
yesterday i attended his mother's funeral.. from the time i was 12 years old i became a part of johnny's family and got to know his mother, jennie, very well.
in fact, she was more instrumental in convincing me there was intellectual merit to the reasoning process of consulting the bible and drawing jw conclusions than any of the arguments johnny and i had.. fast forward a bit.
-
-
-
87
~ Your feelings on aging ~
by FlyingHighNow inso, we aren't going to stay young and never die.
how do you feel about aging, especially those of you that are over 35?
aging poses some concerns for me, especially since i am 49 and pretty much single.
-
-
new light
So far, so good. I feel that the physical breakdown is more than reimbursed by the knowledge acquired. I would never trade in self-confidence and comfort in my own skin for a youthful appearance. Maybe for freedom from aches and pains, but never appearance. JK
-
42
Knocking on the Doors of Classmates out in service
by new light incould anything have been more embarrassing?
you could be at the door of the least popular munger in school, but overwhelmed with envy because, hey, at least he was doing something normal.
in 8th grade, at the peak of childhood self-consciousness, i knocked on the door of a super popular, rich, "in" kid from my class and he answered the door.
-
-
new light
Thanks to working local territory, I became a master at turning my face away from classmates, then slowly rotating the head as they walked by so they would never see my face. Quite an artform, LOL.
Whoever mentioned seeing schoolmates at the hall brought back some wierd memories for me. One family was so despondent that they actually took up studying and the two boys who were my age came to a few meetings with their parents. We had an unspoken pact of secrecy that worked out well. Nice guys. As a side note, the father actually committed suicide in that same period (I feel terrible for the family), which goes to show how desperate one would have to be to listen to JWs.
-
31
Age wise, what are/were the best years of your life?
by oompa ini'm thinking mid 20's to mid 30's..........although i had a hell of a 15.......................oompa
-
-
new light
So far things are only getting better. I do sometimes miss being more naive and carefree years ago, but that's about it. Now is the most satisfying, interesting time I've had yet, and I expect the future to hold more of the same. Every year has its own distinct rewards.
-
17
Did you secretly not want studies and rv's?
by new light ini remember going out in circus because it was what we did.
the idea of having to conduct a study or being responsible for a return visit and, therefore, eternal state of existence, caused knots in the stomach and massive dread.
actually having to commit to field circus long term with no hope of escape to save someone's life was a real downer.
-
-
new light
ATK-- I wonder if those days exist anymore. American fuel prices have put that sort of wasteful driving out of reach of the average JW, I'm sure. Eh..they probably still drive around like morons to avoid actual door-to-door. A day like that now would cost $20 or more in a van full of people, not including that much deserved break.
Fadeout-- The ol' bible study offer...cut right to the chase! I used a similar technique, saying "We're with Jehovah's Witnesses" right away. Why prolong the agony with small talk? I figured that they were either in or out. Talking about expanding their flowerbed earthwide was a waste of everyone's time.
-
42
Knocking on the Doors of Classmates out in service
by new light incould anything have been more embarrassing?
you could be at the door of the least popular munger in school, but overwhelmed with envy because, hey, at least he was doing something normal.
in 8th grade, at the peak of childhood self-consciousness, i knocked on the door of a super popular, rich, "in" kid from my class and he answered the door.
-
-
new light
Tired-- What a story. It must have been torture to deal with the aftermath from that one!
I just recalled my elder father taking out territories from within my school district. WHY? More than half the territory was in another district He was a freaking pioneer elder, He could have worked any town he wanted, but no. "Child abuse" applies completely here. The mental anguish was excruciating.
-
17
Did you secretly not want studies and rv's?
by new light ini remember going out in circus because it was what we did.
the idea of having to conduct a study or being responsible for a return visit and, therefore, eternal state of existence, caused knots in the stomach and massive dread.
actually having to commit to field circus long term with no hope of escape to save someone's life was a real downer.
-
-
new light
Lisa-- I know what you mean. I also left those people alone. R. Crusoe-- The heart is a powerful thing that cannot be silenced forever. Glad yours came through. Jag-- Was your Mom in da troof? If she was, you and your brothers were the best kind of study...the "fish in a barrel" variety.
-
42
Knocking on the Doors of Classmates out in service
by new light incould anything have been more embarrassing?
you could be at the door of the least popular munger in school, but overwhelmed with envy because, hey, at least he was doing something normal.
in 8th grade, at the peak of childhood self-consciousness, i knocked on the door of a super popular, rich, "in" kid from my class and he answered the door.
-
-
new light
Looking back through adult eyes, I see how all these little moments, good or bad, contribute to who I am and the path that led to now. That constant fear and embarrassment had a huge effect on self-esteem then and surely has a ripple effect into the future. I compare it to what could have been. What if those Saturdays were spent on the school football team instead? Connecting with classmates and building confidence instead of tearing it out by the roots? Sigh. I am definitely glad that it ends with me though. No child of mine will ever go through the same thing.
-
42
Knocking on the Doors of Classmates out in service
by new light incould anything have been more embarrassing?
you could be at the door of the least popular munger in school, but overwhelmed with envy because, hey, at least he was doing something normal.
in 8th grade, at the peak of childhood self-consciousness, i knocked on the door of a super popular, rich, "in" kid from my class and he answered the door.
-
-
new light
You don't need a horror story to reply.
-
17
Did you secretly not want studies and rv's?
by new light ini remember going out in circus because it was what we did.
the idea of having to conduct a study or being responsible for a return visit and, therefore, eternal state of existence, caused knots in the stomach and massive dread.
actually having to commit to field circus long term with no hope of escape to save someone's life was a real downer.
-
-
new light
Fake knocking. Awesome. Odie, those are some definite positive regarding rv's. I personally would not have been able to converse for very long as a JW, though. The ministry school did not teach normal social skills.