after the distastful and depression memorial at the kingdom hall last wednesday night, i guess i just felt the need to go somewhere else this morning for easter so i drove around.......i was going to go to the presbyterian church but the service wasn't untill 11:00am....ditto for the lutheran and united churches too, so i ended up going to the catholic church (of all places!
) because the service started at 9:30am.
never been to a catholic service before, (except for one wedding and one funeral years ago).
I didn't go to church this morning but I wanted to. I figured it probably wouldn't have gone over big with my husband so I stayed home. But I have gone several times this past year, and I leave every time feeling better than when I came.... Uplifted, loved, appreciated and appreciative of those around me.
Can't say that ever happened when I went to the KH. I always left there feeling like I needed to be doing more, and just the thought was exhausting.
GGG
i tried logging on here last night after i got home, but i kept getting a message saying that there was an error and i couldn't get on.
anyhoo, i walked in the hall last night with my parents, who also roped my inactive brother into going.
lol!
I went last night. It was actually an interesting experience for me on many levels.
I read Elsewhere's post on the talk and the "Special Announcement", and showed the announcement to my son. I told him it would be word for word and he decided it would be fun to memorize it and mouth the words along with the speaker at the end. Since I'm trying to avoid DFment, I wouldn't let him do that...
I wasn't nervous like I thought I would be. It was held at a school along with another congregation, so I figured I'd get lost in the crowd to a certian extent. The love-bombing started in the parking lot. But I was prepared.
One after another, people approached me and offered a hug with their happy-but-sorrowful smile (the, 'we're-so-happy-to-see-you-but-know-you're-a-gonner-because-you-don't-go-to-meetings-anymore' look - you know the one...) They asked in a concerned voice, "How are you doing?" to which I replied, "Fine!" and then proceeded to ask a question specific to their personal life. Every single last one of them forgot their concern for me, and launched into a monologue on their problems. I encouraged them with questions at the appropriate times... the fact that people were standing around 3 deep to say hi didn't stop the in-depth unburdening of their personal problems.
We sat way in the back (my husband was a 'server' so I got to pick my own seat!) I had forgotten how utterly miserable the poor kids are at meetings. Stressed out parents trying to keep their kids quiet, and little kids trying to understand why they can't be little kids, but have to sit like statues as some guy drones on and on about something they can't understand. The kids get louder, the parents more stressed, and finally they grab the poor kid like a sack of potatoes and stomp off into the back. The kids who sat quietly had this sad, blank stare. It's so sad.
I pointed out some scriptures to my kids during the talk, (why did the speaker read this verse but not the one after, which changes the whole meaning of the verse he just read...?) More love-bombing after the final song, which I couldn't bring myself to sing because I don't agree with it....
All in all, it went pretty well. When I think back to last year's memorial, and where I was in my exit then as compared to now, it's truly amazing. Last year, I felt very nervous, scared even, guilty, and insecure. This year, I feel sorry for all these people. I understand how trapped the truly 'good ones' are, and how stressed out and inadequate they feel. I wouldn't trade my feelings of freedom and self-worth for anything.
The love bombing was kinda fun, though! I grew up a JW and have never been love bombed before.... made me almost wanna join again... NOT!!!!!
GGG (of the I'm So Glad It's Over Class)
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use whatever you want, but here's what i find useful:.
Oh I needed this laugh right now!! Richie, you're a trip.... and very fetching in that suit I might add....
I had elders at my door earlier today.... I'm sure I'll be greeted this evening by them... oh joy. Hmm... they saw my car in the driveway... do you think they'll believe that I was napping at noon?
I was chatting with someone from this board last night, and she gave me some good advice: 1. Smile manickly; 2. Sneeze into your hand before shaking; 3. Keep your head high and your chin up.
GGG (of the I'm Going Pantyhose-less Class)
hey everyone.... i dont really know what to say, here i am, i guess.
i was raised as a jw in a very small town, and da'd myself when i was 15, because i just didn't care about meetings.
im now in my early twenties.
Welcome!
GGG
i read in a book called blood on the altar (or something similar) that the wts had a 60 page manual entitled: "direct and cross examination questions in child custody cases".
this manual, the author claims, has a section where the witness parent gets advice on how their children ought to respond in a court.
for instance, kids should avoid talking about the obligation to attend assemblies and conventions, to go from door to door every weekend.
many years ago while driving with some jw friends in the car we stopped to get sodas.
one of the jw's finishes her soda, opens the car door and tosses out the can.
i was incredulous and said, "what are you doing?
I knew a girl who always threw her chewed gum on the ground - sidewalks, parking lots, etc. She just said, I'll probably be assigned to scrape gum off the ground in the new system.
I always secretly hoped that she stepped in a nice gooey piece on a warm summer day....
GGG
i was having a good conversation with my mum, and then............... id said too much.. she had been telling me she didnt ant to go to the hall, for a number of reasons, and when i started critisizing the borg she went all haughty and started telling me i should be going!!!!!!!!!.
the usual, its so near the end, its the only truth............blah blah.
its 3.30am here and i cant sleep, i just want everyone to know i dont go anymore but i cant.
(((((vitty)))))
I'm so sorry you're going through this. I'm in the same situation with many of my friends who live far from me, or who go to foreign language congregations and don't know that I don't go to meetings anymore.
It's so much harder when it's family.
GGG
i'm worried my jw sister is up to something.
it brought up an argument with my jw mother.
i need a source for court records regarding cases where jw family attempt to take custody from non-jw's of thier minor children.
Here's a link to the Child Custody brochure:
GGG
there is legislation in the u.s. congress regarding illegal/undocumented immigrants.
part of the language deals with churches assisting illegal immigrants.. much of the increase in the u.s. branch is due to growth of spanish-speaking congregations, and a large part of these congregations are made up of illegal/undocumented immigrants.
a typical spanish congregation often needs help.
a large part of these congregations are made up of illegal/undocumented immigrants. A typical Spanish congregation often needs help. There are a lot of publishers, but few "qualified" brothers to act as Min Servants or elders..
That is the case here, too. A friend who is an elder in one spanish cong. here estimates that over half of his congregation is here illegally. I asked him why the elders don't do anything about it... He replied, 'What can we do?'
I think the WTS will look the other way in the same manner they always do - cover their corporate butts, and if push comes to shove, blame it on 'disobedience' on a local level. After all, they were councelled to follow Ceaser's law, you know. Blondie's WT lit. quotes prove that perfectly.
GGG
this is the first year in my life that i won't be going to that thing with the bread and the wine.
you know what i'm talking about.
even though i gradually stopped going to meets since i was 21
I am going too, I think, to keep peace in my home. I think.
I am expecting major love bombing. I've already been getting calls from friends I haven't heard from in ages, just making small talk. Not a peep about meetings, Memorial, nothing. Let the love bombing begin.......
I'm a little worried about missing everyone so much that I get a little sucked back in emotionally.
My husband hasn't mentioned the Memorial at all. Not one word. I'm not sure what that means... Is he not expecting me to go? Is he just assuming that I will? I suppose I need to ask him eventually... I just hate to rock the boat when things are going smoothly.
Soapydish and all you staying home... Good for you!
GGG
