I had just left the supermarket. I was walking to my car and as I opened the door one of my bags broke and a couple of tins fell out.
As I bent down to pick them up, a voice said "Hello Truthseeker"
Startled, I looked up and saw two elders dressed in dark suits. It was a Matrix moment. The only thing missing were the shades.
"We saw you leave the supermarket" one of them said, who smiled at me with his face but not his eyes.
"We heard you went on vacation" he continued.
I answered in the affirmative, wondering how this elder could have known of my whereabouts having not attended the meetings in over six months.
It was surreal seeing both these elders almost appear out of the blue. I never even saw them walk up to me. In a split second they had appeared from nowhere.
"How are you settling in your new congregation?" the elder said, knowing full well that I did not attend meetings in my new hall.
"It didn't work out", I told him, "we don't go to the meetings."
A long pause followed. I could see imaginary cogs turning in his head as he stumbled over my answer. Had he expected me to lie?
"It happens that way sometimes" replied the elder.
"I had intended to go to the meetings", I said, "but it didn't work out"
The other elder responded, "so did we"
"We would like to come by and visit you and Mrs. Truthseeker to encourage you" said the first elder.
"You'll have to make an appointment", I said.
"What would be a good time to visit you" he replied?
"I have both your phone numbers, I will call you" I said.
They shook my hand and walked off as quietly as they had arrived.
The above is a true account of what happened this morning. It was surreal. These two elders, both of whom had not bothered to contact me when I was missing dozens of meetings suddenly pay a surprise visit and wanted to encourage me.
The fact that they saw me leaving the supermarket is quite distrubing. Were they watching me, waiting for me? Or was it just a coincidence?
Our fade has been quite successful these last few months, until now.