Thirdson,
Welcome back; glad to hear you had a nice holiday.
Your post really 'grabbed' me. I post frequently on another forum - not 'religion related' - deals with social issues and responsibilities.
A month or so ago, one of our regular frequent posters, just 'vanished' for a couple of weeks. Imagine my surprise, upon her return to the forum, to learn she and hubby had been away to see her mother-in-law, who had tried to commit suicide. There was a certain 'something' she said that made me think the mother-in-law was a JW. So, I e-mailed her and this was, indeed, confirmed.
This is the spot where your post re the WT article comes in. It seems the JW
MIL, had become clinically depressed. She is a 67 year-old woman who has pioneered all of her life. Her JW husband is 70, self-employed, and has been suffering ill-health. Therefore, a drastic drop in income. They have no savings, no retirement benefits, save Social Security. The JW husband, has apparently had a fairly good income, but they have spent freely over the years. New four-door auto every two years, three 'upgrades' in housing in the last 15 years. Despite there being only the two of them. The daughter-in-law said, when her husband (left the JW's at 18, went to college on merit scholarship) dared question their lifestyle or retirement plans...well, you know...Armageddon is 'just around the corner.' And, 'we need the nice car to look 'proper' in service...and the extra space (5 bedrooms) for CO and other JW visitors.'
TO CAP IT OFF, when they were at the hospital, two elders came to visit.
Their 'loving parting comment' --"Of course, we will have to take you off the Pioneer list." The JW patient, then burst into tears, and the elders just walked out!!!
The US has an aging population, in general. How many elderly JW's will find themselves in similar economic situations? Too, too, many, I think.
Larc and I are aware that his true-blue JW sister and husband, both in their late 50's, have virtually NOTHING set aside for upcoming retirement - which is factually 'just around the corner.'
My sis-in-law, actually told me in a phone conversation, that one CO told her even a 401K was akin to 'gambling.'
They also live in a 5 bedroom home, despite the fact that their one child, is married, and and been 'gone' for over 10 years. My brother-in-law is not in good health...has many problems, and larc's sister has a tendency towards depression. It's going to be a crushing blow when they have to readjust due to economic reality...move into more modest housing, give up frequent new cars, cruises every year.
It will be 'harder' on the 'good' life ones, than, say, an individual who has pioneered, worked part-time, has little in the way of material possessions and is accustomed to a frugal lifetyle.
Articles such has the one you cited, designed to foster all levels of pioneering, service activity (i.e., sell publications, recruit) to keep the organization going, really, really, pain me to the core. We know the WTBTS
will take no responsibility for the financial and emotional hardships they contribute to by such articles.
Will Jehovah provide in such cases?, are they truly blessed? Apparently not, eh?