My step-grandmother played the piano. She was full of herself... so lots of hilarity when hitting a wrong key. Must have been 1969 or so. Some years later, as an eleven or twelve year old, I was at the keys... of the amplifier and the record player as the sound boy.
Van Gogh
JoinedPosts by Van Gogh
-
85
Remember when KH's had a piano and real singing?
by WingCommander inthe thread about got me thinking about my very early childhood, back when witnesses were allowed to be social and have get togethers.
they also had a piano in every congregation i ever attended, and an older sister would always play the kingdom melody.
there was actual singing - not mindless droning and humming.
-
-
-
37
Demographics Poll - Age of JWD members - Anonymous Voting
by Mysterious inthis started in another thread actually and i decided to put one up.
hopefully you don't bury the thread before those that were interested get to see the trends.
voting is totally anonymous and it is hosted totally anonymously.
-
-
Van Gogh
in... top bracket, so far
-
39
Small, but meaningful, moments of joy...
by daystar inin my office building we have a cafeteria that is run by another company.
there is this one mexican woman who has just the most pleasant demeanor, every day.
she greets everyone with a smile and a "how are you today, my friend?".
-
-
Van Gogh
Rabbit,
Whatever you invest in your fellow will be bestowed upon you by the Cosmos... one way or another... call it karma if you will... -
57
will be gone for awhile.
by purplesofa in.
i cant email everyone ....dont have time.
my brother committed suicide.... have to be out of town for awhile.. purps
-
-
Van Gogh
Purps,
I have come to know you as a compassionate person.
That this should befall you... it must cut through your soul... where words do fail indeed... where only love could possibly alleviate your hurt and bewilderment... what must have gone through his mind... and will be going through yours right now..? Peace to him and you.
VG -
57
will be gone for awhile.
by purplesofa in.
i cant email everyone ....dont have time.
my brother committed suicide.... have to be out of town for awhile.. purps
-
-
-
15
I'm Sorry
by Lo-ru-hamah inyesterday, my mother, sister, son (3 year old) and i were shunned for the first time by someone that it actually hurt to be shunned by.
my little brother, who is still a very active jw, told us that he will never see us again.
he won't speak to us, write us, or communicate with us again.
-
-
Van Gogh
Lovesdubs,
About ten months ago somewhere along my way out, I continuously made eye contact with this one guy earning his way back into the trueman show... on the same KH row of seats that turned out to be my transitory ticket out... briefly encountering in the transitory twilight zone of the back row, he passing into the light, me passing on onto the dark side, greeting him outside the hall on our wayide... last as we were both slipping in during song so as not to prolong the agony. He politely pointed out that he wasn't alowed to speak to me.
I met him at my last circuit show some time later, asking him if he had been reinstated already. When he proudly confirmed this, I could not prevent myself from joking: in that case I cannot speak to you anymore. He looked puzzled... -
19
The Myth of Certainty.
by Blueblades inhow important is it for you to be certain about something before you act on it?
example: certain about the watchtower having the truth.
then certain that they don't have the truth.
-
-
Van Gogh
Known something was rotten in the state of Denmark for most of my life... yet ONE HUNDRED PERCENT sure it was the truth... that is, until seven months ago, I suddenly knew ONE HUNDRED PERCENT it wasn't the truth. Unfortunatly, never trusted my instincts, still very impulsive though... acted immediately, within an instance... have been looking back too much ever since...
Will never be really be "certain" about anything ever again.
"Don't try this as home..." -
48
To kill an American
by LovesDubs ini really thought this was poignant.. .
written by an australian dentist....and too good to delete..... .
to kill an american.
-
-
Van Gogh
Dave_T,
First of all, let me state that this board has instilled in me a profound sense of appreciation of Americans, for their eloquence in language and leaving a cult – of course created by those same “Americans” many of us “Europeans” are still victim to. Of all the Europeans, only the Scandinavians seem to have significantly towed the apostate cart.
There is a lot of wisdom in your words… but, I think the/our shame originates with the intuitive notion that we all have the potential to be those monsters at some point in our lives given the right circumstances. Yes, I at present would rather choose death over having to commit atrocities in order to save my own life (one of my sole reasons left for any belief in the existence of a God (within?)), but… think of all those child soldiers that committed unspeakable acts. Choice is relative and dependant on our progression on our path of life. Controlling the monster within often is dependant on circumstances beyond our control, not granted us by them, dependent on our progression on our path in life… as former membership of propagandistic system has shown already… we could have been Hitler’s willing executioners, circumstances beyond our control permitting. Some in my family were… (incidentally, their choice in being actively against or in favor of National Socialism both causing them to become JWs – so much for misdirected idealism)
VG, of the “beyond judging” class. Hoping for ultimate redemption. -
39
Small, but meaningful, moments of joy...
by daystar inin my office building we have a cafeteria that is run by another company.
there is this one mexican woman who has just the most pleasant demeanor, every day.
she greets everyone with a smile and a "how are you today, my friend?".
-
-
Van Gogh
Daystar, thank you, what a wonderful post... just had to reply to this… this is what I have come to believe to be the essence of all and existence itself… ever since my sudden demise from dubdom…only six months ago, life spinning by in a rollercoaster ride… yet the longest six months in my life. Only seconds before reading your post I was reflecting on my newfound sense of abandonment by, and detachment of God. Yet, at the very same time I realized I probably never have felt such closeness to a source of love. Sorry about the cut and paste job but these comments resonate with me big time:
“When people say "we are all connected", this is the sort of thing that is meant…”
“We can all be the beacon that this woman is... all it takes is to let your light shine...”
“joy, sending ripples of happiness to all involved”
“it was only after I grew up that I realized what a selfless and generous thing that lovely woman did for a thoughtless teenager…”
(((Brigid)))
My closest connections at present somehow seem to be with the external cafeteria staff and cleaning people…
”angel to me this morning and we embraced as sisters, though this is the first time we've ever met, we connected and I was warmed by her radiant Light. And no doubt, I will pay it back either to her or someone else who finds themselves weeping and fearful…”
“Little things like letting them go ahead of you in the checkout lane, or asking them if they think the oranges are good this time of year. makes their day to have someone speak to them kindly and listen to what they have to say…”
(((Quandry)))
“That you are here That life exists and identity That the powerful play goes on
and you may contribute a verse…"
“we are all connected....in one way or another…”
"I shall... not... go... gently into that good... night... Rage! Rage, against the dying of the light!"
Daystar, you’re poetry… it is all about light and connection. -
21
This just tears too deep into my gut...
by Van Gogh inas i am struggling with maintaining my own sanity and very fundaments of existence after recently swiftly cutting all ties with with whatever i held to be dear, sacred and true, for what will have been most of my life...; .
after learning about some disturbing developments in someone else's life, i reconnected with somebody from my past through the amazing internet again, telling i had left for ever and for good.
this is a former elder, somebody i considered to be very successful in life... despite the borg.
-
-
Van Gogh
I want to thank all of you again I haven’t replied to person: anewme, spectrum, juni, warlock, jgnat, lovesdubs, serendipity – all members of a special tribe – for sharing soulfully.
What I did not tell you is that this guy is far away from whatever family he still has, having just moved out to the USA only a couple of years ago, and has also just lost his job… His mother will soon not be around any more, releasing family ties even more… at the age of fifty… I know his circumstances of being disfellowshipped are the very reason that might plunge him into loneliness even more. Holding on to some sort of hope or identifying with some group might be all that is left. There are limits to resilience…being all alone…
Hi Megadude:
“ The really sad thing is believing that the only hope in this existence comes from believing dishonest liars and poor writers at a publishing company in New York.”
This is not the only hope of course. Any hope will do fine. But all of those hopes tend to be razed in the wake of enlightenment. WTS often destroys faith.
Brenda:
I have had the privilege of briefly encountering your hugs for real… fleeting passages, hugs in a hallway… still resonating.
(((sspo))) My beautiful wife left me when I went back into JW. You have nothing to be ashamed of.
Hi Ross , thanks for the link. I have very little time to keep up with JWD these days.
Ian:
Yes, the mourning after… Please keep well
Crump: I’ll won’t be able to resist coaxing him onto this board – I would not want to rob him of the possibility of true friendships that are to be forged here.