Over the years on JWN I have often found myself hunting through posts of newcomers, hoping against hope I suppose, that the newbie would be one of my former friends in the local congregation down the street.
I just find it hard to imagine that not a soul among these people has taken the courage to investigate their religion and leave like my wife and I have done.
As the local 'active apostate', I also supposed that at any moment some of the 'brothers' would come covertly to my home, knock and say something like " I am out - please let's talk about it, why I left, why you left."
But, none of the above has ever happened. I did come across a local former Jw here, from another congregation, and we have become good friends over the past few years. And of course I have made new friends from, among other places, this forum.
Something continues to yearn inside for some of those whom I considered for decades to be more than family.
Anyone else have this happen to them?
BTW, I am no newbie, as most know, but some may not know. I have been out of the bOrg now for nearly 9 years, but to this date on occasion i see a thread that introduces a newbie here, and I find myself scouring his/her posts to see if just maybe this person is one of my former commrades.
Jeff