I know those of us that have been treated rather well by the Society are a minority. I had two surgeries actually, while a missionary. Both in NY. Both my airfare round-trip to NY was paid. And the surgeries? I never saw a bill. The doctor's offices I would be sent to by the Bethel Office would hand me an envelope and say, "Give that to your people at Watchtower." I suppose it was the bill.
The one thing that I think some members here are having a hard time getting their head around, is why Ted Jaracz acted the way he did.
I think you might like this background info. My Branch Coordinator in my missionary assignment, who has since passed away, was in brother Jaracz's congregation here in the US when he was a boy. Brother Jaracz was the Congregation Servant at age 19 or 20. Yes, that's right. 19 or 20. I can't remember what city, though, I have it in some old notes somewhere.
Anyway, my Branch Coordinator said that brother Jaracz was very focused as a young man. He took his responsibility seriously as Congregation Servant. So for someone like him, who GREW UP in the Organization, then was appointed as a young man to a position of responsibility, he would really take it seriously.
I was the same way. I could not believe I was appointed as an elder at 24. (Foreign countries appoint younger men) Then at 28, I was appointed as a circuit overseer. I remember praying for hours in my room in the missionary home over this. The Branch Coordinator told me that I was now the shepherd for 1200 people. He told me to be careful as I was a young C.O.
So understand that Ted Jaracz would have been indoctrinated as a young person to follow the Organization. Then he was appointed as a young man to be Congregation Servant. Lots of responsibility, and the idea that God appointed you to have that responsibility.
Then he went to Gilead, and became Branch Servant of Australia, as they called them then. Can you imagine a young man thinking he is appointed by God to be a Branch Servant of an entire country? In his mind, he is more important than the president.
Then eventually he was appointed as a member of the Governing Body, again the youngest one I believe. He would have been about 50 years old. By that time his entire life would be in the Organization.
So when we try to figure out why he didn't make sense, and why he didn't seem to care about people, well, in his own way he did. You can see in that interview on Panorama, he is uncomfortable because he can't see why a worldly person would have the right to ask him anything! He is a man of God! An appointed member of the Governing Body! How dare she ask HIM a question! He is only God's servant doing what he is supposed to do! God's Kingdom will rid mankind of all those problems, so why raise a fuss NOW?
Another thing I think is interesting is that in my understanding, brother Jaracz refused to have his life story published in the Watchtower. My Branch Coordinator told me once that all the GB were told by the Writing Department to have their life stories in the WT. I think I remember only brother Jaracz and brother Henschel refusing. The others gave photos and experiences and were happy to have their article published.
I just never saw brother Jaracz look for personal glory. In his talks, he never seemed to direct attention to himself. He saw himself as a servant of God with a heavy responsibility. He thought we was like Moses and Paul, he really did. "I must lead the people of God."
I think that those of us that were in "special service" for years, we can see how some things could happen. I mean, I lived and breathed the Organization for almost all my life. I used to write letters to the Branch regarding policy. I even wrote to NY a couple of times, and they answered me through the Branch. I worked hard for reform, as I saw it. I didn't think for myself because I never learned how. I looked up to the GB and brothers like Jaracz. I accepted the reality that was presented to me as being the truth, the only way.
Brother Jaracz, I really believe, would have gone and lived in a hut with no electricity and no running water, if he thought that was Jehovah's will.
There is a subtle way of directing attention to yourself on the platform, I have done it I am sorry to say, and I have seen others such as C.O.'s and D.O.'s do it many times. And in groups as well, talking about how "even those of us as circuit overseers" are "counseled" by the Society, and how "even we as circuit overseers need to progress."
I have never seen brother Jaracz do it.
Yes, he has to shoulder a lot of blame for so much suffering. But I am unsure that some here realize WHY he did what he did, and WHAT REALLY MADE HIM TICK. If you are CONVINCED that you are God's appointed servant, and that God will soon fix everything, and not to worry now, what would YOU do?
Ok, rant over.
BF
