My normal day is usually pretty social. I meet a lot of people, have a few friends call me to see how my wife is doing in the pregnancy, and of course I post and read a few thoughts on the online message boards. I have friends from all over the country, and in fact a couple from around the world. Although, I still have one or two casual friends that still call themselves Witnesses. For the most part my life is pretty much Witness-free. My friends mean a lot to me, and I have often taken steps to do as much as I can to help them.The thing is, with all of the talk in my youth at Kingdom Halls of "worldly" people I have to ask, where are all the "Sluts, Drug Addicts and Drunks?"
Why do I wonder that? Well from what it seemed like in all of the Watchtowers, Awakes, Books and Talks. You would think that anyone that was not inside of the Kingdom Hall was completely lost. You would think that no one could do anything right in this life, if they did not follow the worlds of the society. They were all suppose to be terrible people, and people we would want nothing to do with. Yet when I left I did not seem to run into to many people like this. Of course, not all of my friends are these little angels in life, but neither am I. In all though something happened in the last few years, since I left the Witnesses. What happened to me?
It is the oddest thing. When I was writing this post, I thought about some of my friends. I do have some gay friends, and I have friends who some might feel sleep around to much, I have some friends who smoke (not just tobacco either), and some friends who drink a little to much. What I realized though, as I set here tonight, I did not really care what they did in their personal life. Because the people I know on the inside are some pretty damn good people. They love, and they cry. They hate and they scream. They joke and they laugh. Yet all of them have the same warmth when it comes to the way they hug and say hello and good-bye. To me they are all just pieces of this whole pie I call my life.
I guess what changed in me in this life, is that I stopped looking for the "Sluts, Drug Addicts and Drunks" because I stopped labeling people by the standards of others. I just see all of my friends, as just that "friends" and I am happy they see me the same way. It might seem hard sometimes to think that someone who was a self-righteous Witness would sit in a room at times with people of such sinful backgrounds and lives, from what they were raised in. I always say, "really it is no different from sitting in a Kingdom Hall, only these friends admit to doing it."
To me, the real definition of friendship. Is when you find what you like in another person and stop judging them for the things people say you shouldn't like. When you do that, you can't help but get along with a lot of people and feel pretty good about them and yourself. So as I sit here writing my post, and thinking of my friends. I really appreciate that I do not know any "Sluts, Drug Addicts or Drunks" because I do not know those titles anymore in my life. I only know the title that really matters, that these people are my friends.
My thought
Dragon
As an addition to this : I do some times feel concern for certain friends when they overdue things, and I have supported many to get help. In this thought above though, I am more going with the idea that Witnesses throw on these hateful titles to fast when the people had really never done anything that bad to deserve such outrageously cruel labels.
Edited by - kenpodragon on 18 October 2002 4:14:46
I feel sorta 'devilish' at the moment.The sluts, drug addicts and drunks are within, too. Not all labels we might, and usually do, put upon others are foreign to many of us. I understand your post, too.People are the most interesting subject matter, eh, Dragon.I was wanting to write about my 'labeling' of someone yesterday. Just a normal, old grandmotherly type, that is full of venom and hyprocricy. The type that you can pretty much guess that throughout their life were controlling, mean spirited, and judgemental. Hey, you know what? If I were inclined I'd a put a darn 'curse' on the woman, I'd..naw. She has already done that to herself. Do I care about what happens to her? No. I admitted outloud that if she dropped over dead, no concern of mine. Another thing; I really care even less about the fact that here is a person that has spent 70 some years in a thought system that runs contrary to anything sincere. Or so is my opinion based upon experience from my life. I can't even pity those types. I'd guess the politically correct way today is too acknowledge the other person has more rights then you do. Well, in my book they don't. Is everyone equal? I'd think not. If on the other hand each person is spiritual by Nature, then they'd best start showing me some hard evidence because I think they are sluts, drug addicts, and drunks. But wait! I get along better with those types after they have found recovery then I do those who think they have no problem with society, and yet sit in judgement of everyone.Yeah, life is too cool.Guess I'm rambling. It's very early and the youngest grandchild will wake sooner then not...they go home today which is fine by this grandma, but as always, they will be missed. Wonderful children, a delight to have around.Granny 
