Dearest Outlaw... the greatest of love and peace to you, dear one!
Please, PLEASE... do not worry yourself about what dear Six and OTWO have to say to/about me. They are right in their protest, to some degree. They were seriously misled by those who claim to know and follow God (as most of us here were)... but who were lying. The reality of this HURTS. BAD. Everyone who has experienced it knows that pain, even you and I. Unfortunately, the "wound" left by this hasn't truly healed for some, contrary to what they want others to believe, and so they are yet in pain. And how does a wounded animal act? And we are animals, so far as science defines that term.
Their... ummmm... conduct and attitude, therefore, is MUCH more and easier explanable than what they attribute to me. Although they point the finger at me, they would most probably benefit from some... ummmm... counseling themselves, indeed MUCH more than I. Just to get over their anger... and chagrin... at the realization that they really aren't as smart as they think... and certainly THOUGHT... for if so, according to what they say in their threads, they would NEVER have even BEEN misled. They never would have believed the lies and hype, ever, at all. Smart people such as them DON'T. But... THEY DID and WERE. And that is a very bitter reality to them, one they cannot hide: that they, too, at one time were unreasonable and irrational in their thinking. Problem is... they believe they no longer are. But their words and conduct are evidence that nothing has really changed: they really are no different now than they were as JWs. They just think they know "more" now.
That can't be true, however, because if they were they would see that I am no threat... to them... or anyone. Yet, their PARANOIA, which resulted from their previous experience, is manifest and their fear palpable. They believe they are "free"... but the truth is that they are still bound... by their own fear... resulting from their own small and closed minds. Fear of what? Of the unknown: since THEY don't know it/of it... it MUST NOT BE. Because, of course, THEY know everything and of everything.
But counseling wouldn't change a single thing with me, unfortunately (for their position), because the really is nothing "wrong" with me. I am not psychotic, schizophrenic, bipolar, manic... or even depressed. I rarely even GET depressed (not even once monthly!) because life IS good for me, not because I invented that good, but because it really IS. Christ does NOT require us to "suffer" the way the WTBTS teaches... a loveless, faithless, unkind, impatient, JOYLESS life. I never bought into that; indeed, THAT life depressed me. If I ever needed counseling, it was then... because I could not reconcile the love of God... which I KNEW existed... with the LACK of love that I saw and experienced. That love (of God)... has been shown to ME, however, and given ME... by Christ.
So that, unlike dear OTWO, Six, and those like them, I am not angry with anyone, including the WTBTS. Why in the world would I waste my energy on such? Why would I "sully" myself with that? They are NOT worth a second of my breath, let alone what it takes to be... and stay... angry with them. Nor am I angry with OTWO, Six... or those like them. themselves. I understand where THEY are coming from - it is THEY who do not understand me... or, unlike you... even wish to. I truly WISH they knew what I know, however, and hear what I hear, see what I am privileged to see. If they did, they would be right here sharing the same things that I am, I have absolutely NO doubt. And being subjected to the same "judging" and ridicule that they put upon me.
BUT... do not think my Lord leaves me out here alone, dear one - he absolutely does NOT. HE provides help for me directly... guiding me as to what to respond, to whom, and when... and telling me to "Take heart" because while the world WILL take issue with those who belong to him for standing up, standing firm, and speaking the TRUTH, he has "conquered the world." So, that I have nothing to fear from THEM; rather, it is they who fear ME... and their words, comments, and conduct demonstrate that.
And yet, even if he didn't provide such directly, I have his recorded words, particularly:
“Happy are YOU when people reproach YOU and persecute YOU and lyingly say every sort of wicked thing against YOU for my sake. 12 Rejoice and leap for joy, since YOUR reward is great in the heavens; for in that way they persecuted the prophets prior to YOU . Y OU are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its strength, how will its saltness be restored? It is no longer usable for anything but to be thrown outside to be trampled on by men. Y OU are the light of the world. A city cannot be hid when situated upon a mountain.People light a lamp and set it, not under the measuring basket, but upon the lampstand, and it shines upon all those in the house.Likewise let YOUR light shine before men, that they may see YOUR fine works and give glory to YOUR Father who is in the heavens."
So, please... do not worry for me, dear Outlaw: my LORD... is my strength... and my rod... and so I lean upon him. When I get "tired" of the "fighting"... I simply look to him for refreshment... and I receive it. Because of this, I have become of the sort to NOT shrink back or curl up in a ball crying, "Whyyyyy? Why are they picking on me??" I KNOW why they are: because of who and what I am... what I say as a result... and their FEAR of that. And this cannot be changed, so long as I am in the flesh. If dear OTWO, Six, or others like them didn't try to "test" me... others would. Because that is what THIS life is all about: answering the challenge made by our Adversary (the "pokings" of which often come through those who allow themselves to be used as HIS agents)... that all God needs to do is let us stand on our own and because we are such weak, whiney, selfish and self-serving crybabies... we WILL curse Him to His face... in the instant the going gets tough.
However, I intend to live my life... to its very END, dear one... denouncing that lie. For me... and for MY household. What others do or not do, say or not say, and even say about me... is of absolutely NO consequence to me because I don't live FOR them... or by means of them. I live for the One who gave HIS life for me... my Lord, the Holy One of Israel, JAHESHUA MISCHAJAH, who is the Son and Christ of the MOST Holy One of Israel, JAH of Armies, who is the One HE loves... and by means of him. And I stand CLEAN... in my heart AND my spirit... before them both.
As always, I bid you the GREATEST of love and peace, my dear friend, now... and to time indefinite!
I remain YOUR servant... and a slave of Christ, the Tree of Life,
SA, a mere twig of a branch in that Tree
