So last night we had the last book study at our house, next week all the congregations change around and I asked for it to be moved. So I sat in on it, and afterwards we had a bit of a 'party'.
Felt quite emotional really, although i haven't answered for a long time I put my hand up to read a scripture just so I could mark the last time I did this. And it was all about the priestly robes..lol. Hardly momentous.
Afterwards two couples stayed, one of them have two daughters, one used to be my best friend but has been dfed for 10years, the other has very cleverly drifted, so they were talking about the df one and the mum started crying and saying how she saw her in the street and walked past her. And I just couldn't help myself, so we got into a big discussion about disfellowshipping and the rights and the wrongs of it.
Even my husband joined in and asked what they thought about the prodigal son, did his father make him sit with the servants and not speak to him for 6 months when he came back etc.
The elder taking the group, (who I dearly love) said it was discipline and the person had to learn,
So I asked him why was it fair that people who no longer wanted to be witnesses, if they were honest and up front about it, got cut off from everyone they love, and if they weren't and drifted away, that was ok.
We talked for hours, and afterwards I have never seen more clearly what I have stepped away from and my heart breaks for those who are left in it and are so BLIND. The dfed girls mother was sobbing and saying every day she prays for the strength just to get through it.
I'm not totally sure there is a god, or if there is that he cares, but what I do know is if he did.. he would never put his name to an organisation that makes people feel as desperate as this.
Feel like I have pulled one of my last suckers away from the JWs, I'm never going to another meeting.
Poppy xxx