We are getting ready to host my mate’s extended family today. Hosting this particular extended
family of Jehovah’s Witnesses has become fairly predictable over the years. The roots run deep,
four generations. As a “worldly mate” I am treated as well as can be expected. The
personalities in this Jehovah’s Witnesses family run the gamut from the matriarch who for the last
seventy years has steadfastly held to the notion that the end of the world is just around the
corner, to the younger generations who in the presence of the older generation show respect and
nod in agreement with their proclamations, yet behind closed doors, share the odd stories of
being raised as Jehovah’s Witnesses. We’ve stocked up on lots of food and lots of booze. After
all, this is not a group of teetotalers. I don’t condemn them for their excessive drinking, after all
this is one of the only ways they can collectively lighten up. Besides yoga, meditation and other,
similar relaxation therapies are frowned upon as “worldly”. I decided long ago that it is far more
enlightening to observe this collective group of religious folk, then to engage or argue their
beliefs. I enjoy listening to them justify their particular positions. After all I am family and am
privy to their secrets. It is interesting to hear them quote the bible verses of drinking wine “being
good for the spirit”. This ritual always precedes the inevitable time that I am taken aside later in
the day be each of the swaying matriarchs and patriarchs of the family to be told that a little wine
is good for the spirit. If previous experience is any indication, then by midday their collective
spirits should be quite high.
Well I better get moving. I’m no psychic, but by the time the day is done, I can assure you a few
things will have happened. There will be banter about how current world events surely point to
the time of the end. There will be stories exchanged about how evil the Catholic Church is. There
will be stories exchanged about going out in service and how the latest bible study, an intelligent
college student is just about to turn to Jehovah. Later in the day there will be a soft moan coming
from one of the rooms, and there will be that all too familiar scene of the matriarch in tears,
pleading with the youngest member of the family to come to Jehovah before it is too late. I can’t
wait.
Cheers for now.