1992 - Car group in service.
12/24/91
As I set there for the Field Service meeting a older sister name Bernie asked a very obvious question?
"Do you ever get a negative response from people at the door, beings that tomorrow is Christmas and all?"
The elder by the name of Jonathan who was taking the lead in the meeting, a long time friend I knew since being a teen, spoke up and explained.
"For most Christians, this is the one time of the year that they do go to church. They claim faith in God, they claim they are going to heaven and yet only now will they treat one another with kindness and try and be the supposed Christian. So basically, most are pretty kind right now."
The older sister accepted this answer and out in about we went. I set in the car group with Jonathan and we joked often about how people would only go to Church on Christmas, Easter and for a Funeral or Wedding. We mentioned how even there own faith teaches that they should go to church more often, yet they do not. 'How then,' we wondered, 'Do they think a couple of days, or maybe even one, of attendence is going to make a difference in their lives or relationship with God?' This topic continued for the rest of the day among us men in the group and we all concluded, it was a waste of time for these people in any frame of mind.
2001
April 2001 - Been out of the religion nearly 5 years.
Knock at the door
I stand up from reading a book and walk to the door. Open it up and who to my surprise is a face from my past, Jonathan.
"Hello, nice to see you!" He says with a joyful and yet nervous tone. "It has been along time."
I smiled and nodded my head in agreement and wanted to correct him. For it had not been a long time since we saw each other, it had been a long time since he spoke to me. You see, I saw him several times over the past five years; malls, restaurants, and even at a funeral. However, because I faded away from the faith and turned from the supposed 'truth' he ignored me and would do his best to not acknowledge me.
With these thoughts in mind I respond, "I guess so. What brings you by?"
"Well, I am sure you remember, the memorial is coming up and I wanted to bring you an invitation and let you know when it was." He hands me the trac, it is the same bad art as I remember and on the cheapest paper possible. I see it was planned, this visit, as my name is in the right hand corner.
Holding the trac, opening it and seeing the time and location, I look in his face, "Wouldn't it seem odd for me to go to one memorial in the year, and think that was acceptable? After all, if I still believed in the faith, wouldn't I go to all meetings in the week and conventions, assemblies, etc.?"
He looked a little down at my response, "But this is the memorial, and you know what it means and I would think you would respect that?"
I put the trac in my pocket, "So, if I respect this, will this get me in to the new system of things? Will Jesus and Jehovah accept this as enough? Or, does this respect just mean I get to die quicker at the end and perhaps have my body eaten by a more stylish or colorful bird?"
Seeing he was getting no where, "Well, you have really fallen away then if you did not see my point." He then picked up his book bag, walked away and I could see him getting in to his car.
As he drove away out of sight, I found myself thinking to myself. 'I did understand your point, just the point in 1991 and not the one in 2001.'
2011
I expected another visit over the years, wondered if I would see Jonathan again. Yet, like the last ten years, no visit and no invite from him.
Walked in to a Applebees and there was a woman I knew from the Kingdom Hall. She was a older lady named Bernie, not afraid to say what she thought and very bold. I smiled, gave her a 'Hello' and set down.
She finished her meal and could not help but walk by my table as she left and against her better judgement, she stopped. "How have you been?"
"Fine and you?" I was polite.
Looking relaxed at my nice tone, "Good, just a bit sad."
I could not help but wonder why, "What happened, why are you sad?"
Her expression was distant and I could tell she did not like saying what she did, "You remember Jonathon?" Of course she said his last name, but I am being kind not to repeat it here.
"Of course I do."
"Well he died two days ago from cancer," she wipped a tear from her eyes.
I remembered our time together, our conversations and our frustration and to be honest a part of me felt very sad. "Oh, that is terrible, I am very sorry to hear that."
She then turned serious, "What is real terrible, is he left the truth eight years ago and never came back. Which puts his future life in Jehovah's hands now. I just wish he would have remained strong, like he and you both were when you were young men."
Not knowing how to respond, I just smiled and gave a low comment of, "I see what your saying."
Standing taller, I could see she was about to leave, "You know what, you should come to the memorial this weekend, we would love to see you there."
Sighing, I just said "We will see, nice seeing you again, you bring back a lot of memories of the past."
Turning to leave, she smiled and simply said, "You too."
As I left a tip, took a last drink of my beer and looked out the window I could see her driving off and inside I thought to myself, "Just not the memories you are thinking of."
Perhaps in 2021, the story will continue and those who know, will hear the value of what was truly said in 1991.