Jim,
I have watched your recent journey toward reconciliation with mortality. It is painfully evident you are prepared for the worst, yet you have demonstrated to us all, a positive cathartic way to deal with what has to be the most final obstacle life has to offer, our continued existence.
It really matters little the specific names or circumstances surrounding those who fall into the category of "one can short of a six pac", because we all have them to deal with at one time or another, in lifes course. Not of little consequence is the fact that we ourselves have been, acted, spoken, written, whether intentional, or not, in ways that have caused others pain and suffering. It is the nature of being human. You are not alone in this very shared malady.
Legacy by example is the most profound, I believe. This final farewell of yours is, at the very least, getting affairs in order. More importantly, it is a signpost reminder of how very silly, if not ridiculous; it is to carry the heavy burdens of hate and animosity.
It struck me that you so needed to express these comments to this extended group of faceless monikers. The emotion involved similar to what one would say to aggrieve familial relatives. Are we so close, are we a community of brothers and sisters?
Perhaps we are. Having lived such similar experiences, shared in the mind numbing, warped personality of considering ourselves blessed with THE TRUTH, everyone else is dead meat fit only for birds of prey to feast upon, can put a kink in anyones psyche. I have fought to expel this demon of Watchtower propaganda for over 20 yrs, yet still see its ugly face sneering back at me almost everyday. Yes we are a very tight community, whether we like it or not.
So to apply your advice regarding showing love and compassion to one another, in this forum, community, will in practice be much harder than it ever was in the enforced, sanctioned, environment of life in the congregation of Jehovahs Witnesses. We dont have the need or desire for any elders to discipline or chastise us for our deeds, good or bad. We loathe the thought of ever returning to that cesspool of mediocrity.
So dont be surprised on your recovery and return to our community, that you find things pretty much as you left it. Considering the alternative, just maybe the love and concern you advise us to display, has and always has been, here all along. It just get side tracked from time to time, mainly because one or the other of us, showed up to the party with a less than a full sixpac..
You should feel completely at peace now Jim. You have said all you can say, and it was worth the effort!
Danny
