sad, mad, glad, the death of a love.
i had heard this so many times before.
mad stage 2sometimes the hardest to get to.
James Hillman, a noted psychoanalyst and lecturer, expressed it this way:
"When you realize that what love is all about is heartbreak, you're all right. But if you think it's about fulfillment, happiness, satisfaction, union, all of that stuff, you're in for even more heartbreak...."
That's awfully cynical. But mostly true, I'm afraid.
But when it's all said and done, I'll still go with Tennyson: "Tis better to have loved and lost, Than never to have loved at all."
David
we are visiting down in province and my wife much to my displeasure on her last few visits has been donating money to the building of a new kingdom hall, of course this has been going on for a couple of years.
well when they found out we had arrived, this elder comes around to visit and it wasnt hi how are you it was "hi i would like to offer you an opportunity to donate once again to our building fund", then he got around to asking how we were doing and were we enjoying our visit.
what a buch of bull.
It only makes sense that the Society is going to protect iself. I can't recall the details, but I do remember several years ago that, right here in Texas, an entire congregation defected from the WTS and they took the Kingdom Hall with them. The Society couldn't touch them and they used every legal maneuver they could. Does anyone remember the details on that? But you can bet that since that experience, the WTS lawyers have plugged the hole so it can't happen again.
As far as elders stealing money, I don't think embezzlement is a common thing, but it does occur more often than you might realize. I personally know of 3 instances when elders took some money. The most flagrant incident happened when an unbaptized, yet "righteous- hearted" elderly man made a $10,000 donation to the Kingdom Hall to use in any way the elders saw fit. He gave the money to an elder who then put it in his own bank account. It just sit there and he didn't spend any of it. But he didn't tell anybody about it either. He kept it. The other elders found out about it several months later when the elderly benefactor mentioned in passing that he made a donation directly to Brother XXXXXXX. And the elders were, like: "What in the hell are you talking about??????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Well, you better believe the shit hit the fan, big time. But you know what? The thieving elder wasn't removed or anything. He was the City Servant at the time, and you can't imagine what a smooth-tongued politician he was. Being best-friends with the Circut Overseer didn't hurt him, either. He claimed that he put the money in his own account because he got a better interest rate than the Kingdom Hall could. And he got away with it! But don't you know that he was just waiting for that old guy to die (which he did soon thereafter), and if nobody said anything, he was home free with the loot.
Yes, Buffalos, it happens sometimes.
David
johnny depp?
ian mckellan?
morgan freeman?
I enjoy watching a good movie or TV show from time to time, and I admire the talents of actors who can really slip into character and portray someone convincingly. However, I really don't keep up with names and faces, and I don't have any idea who the best actors are. For the life of me, I really can't figure out why we give actors so much attention and adoration. Actors don't do anything-----------------they pretend to do things. They pretend to be bronc-busting cowboys; they pretend to be hard-boiled detectives; they pretend to be astronauts or gladiators or soldiers or whatever. But they don't actually do anything. I've seen several movies where the main characters have been kids in the 7 or 8 year old range and they did a real good job. That tells me that acting can't be that hard. So why are we willing to give actors so much adulation? Why are we willing to pay them so much money? I realize that very few actors can make 6 or 7 figures, but the fact that any of them do is amazing to me.
Well, I didn't mean hijack the thread---------------------------it's just something I've always wondered about and this seemed like a good chance to vent. Anyone have an explanation?
David
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to all my friends or anyone who would like to support me, god knows i can use as many as possible, my dads criminal gardiner trial begins june 27 and 28 in orangeville ontario at the court house.. send lots of good energy my way............this will be the end of a very long journey.. vic
Good luck, Vickie. It's going to work out.
David
i know an elder who once opened a prayer like this:.
"jehovah!
this is xx-congregation speaking..." .
I was probably 16 years old, and I was being "used" in the congregation a lot because I was so Theocratic and such a good example of how young people should behave. After the Tuesday night book study in Sister Harrison's home (I think we were studying the old "Babylon" book") I was called on to say the closing prayer. Just as I opened my mouth, this elderly sister let this huge fart. Bless her heart, she was about 90 and she couldn't help it, but my god, it was enormous and it quickly permeated the small living room. My 2 brothers broke up and they were nearly killing themselves to keep from laughing, but they weren't very successful. My dad reached over and clobbered one of them, but it didn't help. Everyone, even the conductor, was trembling, they were needing to let it out so bad. Two or three people covered their laughing with a coughing fit, but it was pretty obvious what they were doing.
And there I was, all alone on a high wire.
I gritted my teeth and made it as quick as I could and willed myself not to laugh, and, somehow, I got through it without breaking down. Even my dad said he didn't know how I did it.
Well, that's about the best prayer story I've got.........
David
i don't know want topic this should fall under, don't really care right now.
i've been pissed off most of the afternoon.
my jw stepdad, who until last month i have not spoken to in 10 years, sent me a book--"what does the bible really teach?
Hi there, Shelley. Normally, I always try to promote family harmony, and I would usually encourage you to swallow your pride and do what you can to make peace. But the molesting by your stepdad is unforgiveable. That has a lot to do with the meth and other problems that your going through right now. I'm afraid that it will probably haunt you for the rest of your life. That email from your stepdad jumped out at me right away. It's already been mentioned, but that email might be very incriminating. Before you drop it, think about it and ask some more questions, OK?
Best wishes and good luck with your recovery.
David
it happened one year ago today.
june 4, 2004. they say these things take time and that recovery gets easier as time goes on, and i suppose that's true.
but then again, some things leave a hole in your heart that will never go away.
Hello, Doubtfully Yours and Melmac--------------------------------you're both very kind. Thank you. David
i'm in the middle of reading "brave new world" by auldous huxley and came across an interesting quote:.
one hundred repetitions three nights a week for four years, thought bernard marx,.
who was a specialist on hypnopdia.
It's been a long time since I've read "Brave New World, " but I must've missed that line. Come to think of it, I was still a witness when I last read it, so that's probably why I didn't catch it (or ignored it.) I'm going to add it to my reading list and I'm sure it will be an entirely different experience now. Yes, Shania, I do agree about "1984." It's chilling------------------take out the words 'The Party' and 'Big Brother' and substitute 'Governing Body' and 'Society', and you've got a perfect depiction of Witness life. Right up there with "Crisis of Conscience," that's one of the books that made me wake up to the WTBS.
David
im from a small backward industrial town in the north of england.
in the 70's when i was a kid no-one had a car.
we used to meet for field service on the street corner and have a pep rally right there, then stand in a circle and say a prayer.
We now have a Queen, folks!
Long live the Queen!!
it happened one year ago today.
june 4, 2004. they say these things take time and that recovery gets easier as time goes on, and i suppose that's true.
but then again, some things leave a hole in your heart that will never go away.
Hi there Kilroy---------------you're an interesting guy: ...you know shit in due season. Now that's a line for the ages. I'll file that one away for future use. Thank you very much for your sympathy and may I return the condolences. I'm very sorry to hear about your mother------------------------whether it's been one year or four, you don't get over it, and I hope you're doing OK. I notice that you live in Michigan-----------------------I'll be up that way in a couple of weeks. I go to the Interlochen Center for the Arts every summer and work a stint for a few weeks. It's very beautiful up there in those forests near the Canadian border and I regard the time I spend there as my time of spiritual renewal. Thanks again Kilroy.
You're not rambling, Hondo--------------you're not rambling at all. Thank you for your sympathy and also for relating your own experiences. That's a real shame about your ex-wife. I wish her well, and who knows, she might wake up some day. I wish you well, also, and I thank you so much for your post.
And thank you Kim and LoverofTruth and Golden Girl----------------------------you don't know how much I appreciate your expressions. You have all touched me deeply.
David
