A friend just emailed me this video and said it was tremendous.
Tremendous?
I just listened to the whole 41 minutes (while reading here - truth be told) and found nothing remarkable about it whatsoever.
HE talks about how hard it is to live at Bethel (glad someone admits that) and encourages those not in "Bethel service" to substitute the words faithful service.
He tirelessly beats the drum that we have sadness and trials because it is Satans world. No mention of our lives being what we make of it.
I guess that is the "hook" the spiritual balm for JWs...if you are hurting its because Satan HATES you for being such a good servant of Jah.
If a message can be short term comforting and long term depressing that has to be it in a nutshell.
Yes, it would be great if all lives ails were because we were good people but it is the trying to better things and succeeding that empowers us and brings us life satisfaction.
JWs never get to experience that loop at all. Unless they quit being quite so "faithful" and just launch themselves in to life.
How could I not see all this when I was in?