So I was seating at the meeting this past Sunday. The latest WT article to be studied speaks of "using our imagination" to think about the blessings of the kingdom. The whole study was centered around how we can, and should, spent time visualizing ourselves in the new world, working along with our brothers. Receiving the resurrected ones, etc. At least for the Spanish version, they did not use the word "visualization". Visualization techniques are said to help people achieve goals and stay centered in the process of achieving those goals. Wether is to loose weight, quit smoking or become the next biggest CEO, it is claimed that visualization (the act of imagining one self having achieved that goal) is a very powerful tool.
The word the WT magazine used is "imagination". Reminds me of and old episode of Spongebob. In it (in case your kids are too old or have none), Spongebob gets in a big box and starts making sounds, as if he was part of some fantastic adventure. His neighbor, Squidward, dismisses his child like game until he hears the noises. He runs over and opens the box, just to find Spongebob seating there by himself, inside the box. Upon questioning him on how it was possible for it to sound so real, Spongebob replies.. "Everything is possible when we use our IMAGINATION".
For all practical applications, they were referring to the same thing. They took the time to compare our situation to that of people of the past who "saw" the promise as something real and then tried to have us do the same.
So you probably wonder what does it all have to do with the subject of the thread? Well they spent quite some time in one specific paragraph. You see, if you are familiar with WT studies, you know that there are a handful of folks who give out most of the comments on each paragraphs. They are mostly always the same people. You have another handful who are the shy type, who are willing to read a bible verse out loud but can not find the courage to make up their own comments.
That was not the case for this one paragraph for it had a special question and special meaning to most people. It was one of those paragraphs were you are asked to tell what your hopes are for this upcoming Cinderella like world (I owe that analogy to my wife. Thanks Babe!!) Almost everyone had something to say. Everyone wanted to make a comments and they allowed everyone to take a few seconds and let out their hopes. Most, off course, were centered around wanting to see a dead relative. Before you know it, several people were crying. Those who were able to hold back the tears, could not do so at the end. For as you guessed it, the study was closed with song 134.
I have noticed an increased to what I would call "tear-appeal". I know is not new, I just feel there has been an increase on using this tool. There was a video at the 2014 International RC that we all know about. Since then (almost a year now), I know we had at least four other occurrences. Wether there was talk, a KM article, WT study or a video, but at the end always closing with song 134 and the outcome was identical every time. It is almost like if someone up in Bethel decided that they needed to inoculate everyone with a shot of grief every few months.
Anyway, I thought I would bring this up. I know many here have been JWs for 30 or 40 years. I've only been one for about 13 and I do not recall this type of torture happening so often. To me this is just another sign of desperation by the GB.