I shared this on fb and soon received a message from a still-in that I should let go of my hate...
I do not have any hate, only regrets that after graduating high school I was not in college but trying to hand out magazines that no one wanted.
http://www.npr.org/2017/02/19/510585965/poor-education-leads-to-lost-dreams-and-low-income-for-many-jehovahs-witnesses.
can't comment on this right now because i'm heading off to school .
transcript:.
I shared this on fb and soon received a message from a still-in that I should let go of my hate...
I do not have any hate, only regrets that after graduating high school I was not in college but trying to hand out magazines that no one wanted.
young elder(mid-thirties) in my congregation stepped down last night.
nicest guy, with two lovely kids, a great supportive wife.. it got to be too much, as the other elders are practically useless, let him do all the hard work, while they did all the "important" stuff.
literally ran him ragged.. he's still in good standing, gave the final prayer.
After 10 years as a MS followed by 10 years as an Elder, I had a spectacular public burnout. My alcoholism and anxiety put me in the hospital and nearly killed me, other times I wanted to take my own life just to make it all stop.
Watchtower's yoke is strangling and the load is crushingly heavy...
I repeatedly asked for less responsibilities, but was not taken seriously until I flipped out right before I was going to start the meeting. THEN they realized I was DONE.
i still remember that feeling.
thank god it's gone for good.
i used to be part of us witnesses.
Incredible read! I have had similar experiences but can not put it into words as you have.
i heard in years past that there was such a tract planned for the great tribulation.
my father at the time denied this, and reasoned that that would not be a loving thing for them to do, to essentially say, "told ya so!".
last year, the bunker videos had brother brown mention "a message of judgment".. has such material been drafted or is this just another bluff?.
Good one, BOC!!!
ok, so i don't know if this is "old news", and if this has been seen, and or mentioned already.
if it was, i do apologize, but i feel i have to mention what has been seen on tv, within the past 24 hours.. first off, i would like to say that i did not personally see this commercial.
however, it was seen by someone that i can verify 100% is telling the truth, as it was my own father who saw it.
The feeding frenzy has begun.
my wife found this 1/4 page ad on page 2 of yesterday's nj star-ledger, probably the biggest newspaper in nj.
pretty telling.. .
The lawyers are smelling the blood in the water... the feeding frenzy is about to begin.
Good.
my mom, while pregnant with me, was one of thousands of jw volunteers to work on the construction of this once beautiful assembly hall in south florida circa 1984. it had a beautiful pond, waterfall, and even a resident alligator.
many remember it as well for it's huge plaster murals on the walls showing scenes of paradises.. pics as it was before (sorry for the low quality, struggled to find good pics of the auditorium as it was, if you have any good ones, do share them):.
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It looks a lot more up-beat than when I was there for a km school. The plaster murals were neat, though.
the elders in this area are getting burned out.
i have overheard comments that demonstrate this, but in my dealings with them, i clearly see it.
they can't keep it straight.
I too was told soon after my resignation as elder that the org is realizing the stress they have put on appointed men and that the burdens are being made lighter.
My response: "The damage is done, the damage is real, it is too late."
I could sense their desperation and need for someone, anyone, to take on the role.
Great, now I will have that song stuck in my head all night.
the elders in this area are getting burned out.
i have overheard comments that demonstrate this, but in my dealings with them, i clearly see it.
they can't keep it straight.
I was born-in, was taught to "reach out". Appointed MS at 20, elder at 29. I burned out like a flaming meteor crashing to earth, in front of everyone. I had no time to do anything I wanted. Alcohol was how I dealt with my anxiety and pressure from the WT.
My drinking put me in the hospital for pancreatitis. Just before my hospital stay I had received a speaking assignment for the circuit assembly. From my hospital bed I passed on a message to the CO that I received the assignment and accepted it. How screwed up is that?
For me, stress only came from the WT Corporation. I could handle stress from any other aspect of my life.
At the beginning of my "career" as an "appointed man", I was excited to serve. Later as an elder I realized that the assignments just kept piling up on me with no relief. Soon I cynically felt that to do all that was asked meant quitting a paying job just to have the time. That was not an option, so something else had to give. My sanity is what gave way.
I would scream at my wife and kids to get ready for the meeting and get out the door. Once, I grabbed my then 6 year old by the upper arms and pushed him down onto his bed, shook him while screaming at him to quit screwing around and get dressed.
While I was on stage as TMS overseer, my little boy was sitting in the audience bleeding from where my thumb nails had scratched him on each side of his chest. After the TMS I realized what I had done, took him to the bathroom to help him. I started to shake and sob. That was the beginning of my awakening. I could no longer ignore my doubts or my mental condition.
That was 6 years ago. I am sober, love my wife and kids, and have found a measure of peace. I still have anxiety problems, especially when thinking of the pressure I was under, and still occasionally experience suicidal ideation.
i can never go back.