Posts by Sentinel

24

Inactive and Immune

by new light in

did you know that page 99 of "pay attention...." (the elders' manual) states that a person who has not associated for a while is basically exempt from discipline?

essentially if you attend a judicial hearing or respond to the elders you are admitting accountability to the "christian congregation.

" therefore, if you walk away from the congregation and simply ignore the elders for long enough and exert no influence on the members, they don't have to pursue you, even if they hear of serious sin.

Sentinel

New Light, I have heard of this. However, the way the JC acts about those simply "not associating" is quite different from the shunning that many continue to receive at the hands of family members. Perhaps the congregations should realize that discipline only works, if there is to be an end result that works. Obviously shunning only serves to separate and divide, while showing love and compassion brings together. We all must be true to our own hearts and not be punnished for doing so. If the JW's could only see the reality of this, they'd be happier, and we'd be happier.

/<

8

Walking through a "Dark Night of the Soul"

by Sunnygal41 in

from the conception of writing this, to its birth upon reaching you, it has greatly evolved in a very short span of time.. .

some call it the dark night of the soul.

some call it walking through the tunnel of darkness.

Sentinel

Sunny, I am very familiar with what you have written in your post. I have passed through the dark night of my own soul; and in saying that also realize that the passing never truly ends completely, as long as we breathe.

Life is a lesson unto itself. We can learn from it and move forward, or we can be stubborn and stay "stuck". There is a time for great stillness and quiet; but it does not mean that the inner self is not connecting with our soul, working very hard at the same time--growing, changing, creating. It is during the time of great turmoil and anguish within our own self, that many things become clear, and answers unfold before us, like secret messages crystal clear to vision.

I would say to anyone "go into that darkness" willingly and boldly. It is called "letting go". When you face your own self, good and bad, evil and divine, you will be sharpened like a two-edged sword. You will be ready for war, but tuned for peace.

Love and Light,

Karen/Sentinel

9

Badwillie's Life Part 2

by badwillie in

part 2:

one great thing about children is that they are survivors, and they learn how to adapt to changes very quickly.. so the next stage of my life (11-15 years old) was really were i came to fully realize that this was it.

these were my new friends.

Sentinel

Our childhood memories can haunt us. Sometimes, they can even be distorted, because children "see" things differently when they are children, and those perceptions stick in the mind like glue.

Usually parents care about their children and want the best for them. Unfortunately, unless they have gotten their own act together, they are passing along all their insecurites and obsessions. Children cannot change their parents. It is a long road to wait until one can become their own person.

Some parents become fanatics about all sorts of things, and try to manipulate their children into being "replacements" for the life they feel they were cheated out of. JW's take this manipulation to a whole other degree. They not only change their belief system, but they change everything that a child has learned to call "normal". They strip children of their foundation of friends and family in the name of religion, and make us into robots. They allow their own free will to be taken away, and they sacrifice their children to this same end. They do this with the tools of dogma, and then we grow up filled with guilt and fear, which can takes years, if ever, to work through. Some never work through it. Some never become truly free.

You know how they say "the truth will set you free?" Well, it's the truth about religion that really sets a person free. Life really opens up like a magnificent portal to a whole new perspective when our minds are clear.

I've lost out on so much, but all in all, I've gained much more. So how can I say that my life, though painful as it was in many places through the years, was not a necessary part of my spiritual journey?

Thanks for sharing your life and opening up your heart. This is part of the healing process. We are here for you.

/<

52

Emotional Day

by Puternut in

jw
friends

i am having one of those days.

it all started yesterday when i was picking up some work from a client yesterday nearby.

when i walked in the store, the nora jones cd was playing and i became emotional.

Sentinel

((({Puternut)))) There is a place in my heart for you. You are safe there. You can stay as long as you want, and nothing will be asked of you. You don't have to talk. You don't have to do anything, but "be".

Your kids are young, but not babies. They are learning about the world in a distorted way, but they also have instincts. Don't lose hope that they will find their way back to you. Sometimes the best is saved for last. We can't change the past, but we do have a great deal of power inside ourselves. We can learn to keep our emotions from overwhelming us and bringing us down too often. We can do good things for ourselves.

My JW mom chose to shun me back in '82 when I walked away, and there was no cause for her to be so unkind, unloving and rigid. She and my father moved far away, and totally cut me off. Dad used mom as an excuse for a long time. It hurt to feel so abandoned by my own parents. I faithfully wrote to them all the time, and then one day, I decided for myself that this one-way relationship wasn't working, and that I would stop writing. It took awhile, but my dad apparently got very upset because I wasn't communicating, and the next thing I know, they are both coming for a visit......for mom, it had been twelve years since I'd seen her. I was caustious during the "reunion" and all worked well until my dad died in '01. Mom suddenly went back to the strict shunning again and the family was divided once more. But the time we had together again, lasted ten years, and I treasure that so much. I've had to let go again. Each time, I think I learn a bit more about myself...my limitations, my abilities and qualities. I grow a bit stronger.

Your children are being taught one thing about you, but in their hearts you are their father and they love you. Never give up hope. Take care of yourself my friend. Who knows. One day you may open the front door and get the biggest surprise of your life. You might be 75 years old when it happens, but who cares. Once it happens, the past will slide away as if it never happened. Live well now with hope for better days. You are a worthwhile human being and you've found your way. Now they have to find theirs.

Karen

9

Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

by desib77 in

jw
friends

just want to vent.......hope you don't mind.. my mother (jw) and her husband (also jw) had asked to take my husband and i out to eat for our anniversary.

since she really doesn't come to visit much (even though i'm only an hour away) i thought it would be nice.................a couple of nights ago she called me to tell me that instead of taking us out to eat that weekend they had decided to take the c.o.

out to eat.......................now, tell me does that seem right to you?

Sentinel

Love is a very powerful emotion. It is also a controlling emotion when we try to manipulate the people we care about. Why is it that we all just can't be what we feel like being, insteading of acting out "parts" just to be accepted or to belong?

I truly believe that many of our family members who are still "in" make the choices they do, not because they really want to, but because they feel compelled to do so by a dogmatic belief system. In other ways, I think some folks use religion of any sort as an excuse to remove themselves from any responsibility for truly loving their own family or other people. It's a cop out. They behave this way, and there is no accountability. Those of us on the receiving end have no choice but to accept this type of behavior and move on. These people have not truly learned how to love themselves and that is very sad.

We can say we love someone, and at the same time do things that are so hurtful and painful. When we decide to "love", we take a great chance. It opens us up to all sorts of human experience. I wouldn't have it any other way. Love hurts so good.

/<

26

TV Movie "Judas" better than "Passion" at Theaters

by Sentinel in

Sentinel

26

TV Movie "Judas" better than "Passion" at Theaters

by Sentinel in

Sentinel

26

TV Movie "Judas" better than "Passion" at Theaters

by Sentinel in

Sentinel

17

Sad but maintaining

by Lady_Kaye in

i really did not know what to title this post so i just put how i felt.

where do i begin?

well due to my past experiences with religion.

Sentinel

I think I'd gather myself up and make a visit to this "girlfriend", and I'd point blank ask her if this is what she intended. It just might make her think abit before spouting off such foulness.

Bad things happen to good people. Good things happen to bad people. Things just happen. I'm so very sorry for your loss. Take care of yourself. Listen to your heart.

/<

19

I'm alittle angry right now! Rant...

by Been there in

jw
friends

i was at my daughters helping her out with her new baby all day.

i left to go home and stopped behind this pick up truck at a stop sign.

it was taking a while for him to go then bam he backed up into me.

Sentinel

There isn't much defense for us if a liar pays another person to lie as well.

Life isn't fair sometimes. Sorry this happened to you.

I was watching a cop show the other evening, and it showed actual videos from patrol cars, where the officer stopped a vehicle. In separate incidents, one officer was killed and thrown in the bushes, and the other was beaten and left for dead in the road. Of course they got the guilty parties and prosecuted them.

Sometimes, it's best to just stay put in your vehicle, without getting out. Take down their tag number and a description. If they get out and come back to your car, just ask them to call the police if you don't have a cell phone. If they don't, and they leave the scene, then you have evidence enough for your insurance company and even the police to address the issue. It just isn't safe anymore, especially for women.

/<