When I had arguements with my father, and the brothers listened. In particular one sister and her family that I spent a lot of time with. Her son went to another high school he was a couple of years younger than me, we graduated at the same time (age 11 I was taken out of school, didnt go back until 18, thus the reason I didnt graduate until I was 20)...
I had considered moving. From my fathers home. Many of the witnesses listened and consoled me. None told me what to do. One elder, the fella he studied with was a bit rude, even infering I could be dfed if I left home, for 'disobeying' my parents. He bit his lip when I told him I would often disobey them, if for instance my father told me to marrry someone.
The sister listened, her family also. Then she suggested that if I tolerated my father it would assist me later in life, learn how to tolerate others. She was right, I stayed one extra year, and it was a hellish year, but I am quite glad I went through it. However in any case she and her husband offered me a place to stay if I wanted. I am told that at a gathering, she was bringing food out to the serving table, and I leaned over and kissed her spontaneously on the cheek. I suppose I did. Must have since so many tell me I did. I dont recall.
My wife and I were on our way to cleveland to work. We worked for a witness family, yes you guessed it, cleaning offices. The transmission on the car just dropped. Gone. We were stranded. They let us sleep in their basement on the floor, lest we mar their guest room beds. Typical JW? Some might think so. But I think the brother that came to get us was typical. We called, to our congregation. He was busy, going out, with some girl. A young man so that was understandable. He cancelled his plans. We had no money. Still, here he came..and got us, only an hour drive. But it meant something to she and I. I don't think I kissed him, but I know I hugged him.
The time before I got married, I was broke. I had been programming, living with my sister and her husband. Freelance. They spent money which was supposed to be for the newspaper ads on wedding rings. Gone gone, the ads, and of course the work that flowed from it. They moved out. We lost the lease. No problem, they were young, so was I. Except I had no place to stay, no money, no food. A friend, who I had done some work for in the past, let me stay at his place. He and his wife offered for me to stay with them. I was there a couple of weeks, just hanging out. I would go into his office, which was also a brother. Piddled around on the computers, they found some work for me to do. The brother paid me, despite the fact that I was fixing problems in my own program. A few hundred. Then one day, a card..was given to me, as they headed to lunch, the entire place. Here Joe, he says, the brother I was staying with. Everyone got you a card, and he ran out the door. I couldnt open it, because I knew. It was too thick to be only a card. "From your brothers and sisters" If I recal, that is all that it said. Not that I could read it well, I was crying. Imagine that, Hyghlandyr crying...is he crying now as he types this? A few hundred dollars, when I finally forced myself after the brother said, so did you open it...I couldnt talk a response...He knew, I knew, they knew.
Maybe tomorrow I will add some more. Moral hygh ground? I am thankful that I am amoral now, no morals, nada, zippo, a nothingist. Still, were there ever times JWs made me feel cared for? Yes. Just about every day I was associated with them. But then how could you at times be bugged by them Hyghlandyr?! Well, is it not those that we care for that bug us?
Speaking of which my wife? Bugs me to death! We are always on the verge of divorce. But still, if my friends are in need, here is a bed, sometimes for months at a time. I have had three at a time staying here before...well fed. So yes a lot of times she irritates me, but still things like that make me feel cared for. Oh btw, neither I, nor my friends are Jehovahs Witnesses.
And if, the entire history as one of Jehovahs Witnesses was only one of abuse, nastiness, pettiness and hatefulness. If you dreaded being around these people, could not stand their hate, their hypocrisy, the vile ways.... Then why be bothered if they shun you? I should so much as celebrate the day that I will be shunned....should such be the nature of the average uncaring witness...like the ones I mentioned above.
Namaste JWs, exJWs formerly and still currently, my brothers and my sisters.
