Hello Amazing,
Thank you for your "Amazing" story. You have me compelled to
check every day for updates.
I wanted to ask how your wife was doing?
I hope that her depression has been able to wane somewhat
since leaving the "LIE"
My last few years in this religion I became very close
to the elders wives, and found that every one of them was
clinically depressed, as well as over half of the sisters in the
congregation.
IMHO I think it had a LOT to due with the fact the the society
was constantly telling us that "we were'nt doing enough, we could
be doing this, should be doing that, should'nt be doing this."
"We were not worthy" "not measuring up"
They say that in parenting (society was like our parent)
that with every negative word, it takes 100 positive words
to counteract that negativity. But as I recall, we never really
were given much positive feedback, or reinforcement.
It was always about how we need more field service time, we
need more study, more personnal prayer, more more more...
Every assembly was the same ole thing..
"BRO so~and~so who is 85,has had both legs aputated, is deaf, has glaucoma,is suffering from emphysema,has colon cancer, and his wife
has just died. But he is a "special pioneer" and has 65 bible studies.
How come we cannot be like him? We can, how come we are not?
I remember walking away from ever assembly, not upbuilt, and
my faith streghtened, on the contrary, I would leave there
thinking, wow, I am still not doing enough, I should be doing this,
and should be doing that...yikes, how can I ever measure up?
One of my best friends was/is a special pioneer, and has taken
on the vow of poverty, she is an awesome bible teacher, and
seems so strong...yet through tears, she tells me that she is not
sure she is going to make it to the "New System".
Why? because she does not feel like she is doing enough!
Oh please~ that is far from what Jesus's ministry taught!
and yet we easily get caught up in the words of the "Society"
because we think that Jehovah is telling them to tell us that
we are not doing enough for HIM!
Sheesh its no wonder that everyone is depressed>
When do we ever get to be happy with what we are accomplishing?
NEVER as far as the Society is concerned.
They wanted to keep us under a false sense of urgency, that way
we will continue to feel like we better be doing more, or somehow
we will be disapproved in Jehovahs eyes, and will not make it.
Ya like Jehovah is looking down and saying Midori is not going
to make it if she does not read all the magazines, front to back, and of course pre-study for the meetings, and make it to all the meetings.
Not that it has anything to do with how she loves and cares for people, how compassionate and kind she is, not how she lives by christian standards!
No that is not Enough! If you are not studying, and giving talks, and making all the meeting, and going out in service...then forget it!
YA RIGHT! so glad that I finally saw the real Wizard behind the curtain..(wizard of Oz)
I hope that your wife's depression has improved since leaving the BORG!
I know that the guilt that they put on people can last a lifetime, and aggrevate any depression that they already had.
No man can stand above another and declare whether they are
worthy or not.
May we all be able to loosen the grips of the borg, so that
we can live happy and fullfilling lives, without the guilt, frustration, and feelings of not measuring up on a daily basis.
Midori