Vivamus' post reminded me of some of my shunning experiences and one I had recently.
Twice I have been doing yard work in the front of my house and my "annointed" JW mother and her car group have pulled up and parked RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE. They get out, dressed up, bookbags, literature. I have a look of disbelief as they all pretend I am not standing there. (I am a known DA'd ex-JW) and they go about their business of selling magazines. My mother smiled at me, but would not wave or say anything verbal. Like I said, this has happened twice. Once I was washing my car and had a fully loaded running garden hose in my hand. I almost.... but didn't.
When it happened the first time, I was upset. The second time, I was enraged. I drove over to my parents' house and got in my *annointed* mother's face and screamed in my most bloodthirsty, murderous, menacing voice that she had never better do that again. She was stunned. She couldn't see what she had done wrong or had done to upset me.
A few years have passed since that happened.
About four weeks ago the JWs came back. Mom wasn't with them, but they had the courtesy to park on the other side of the street. Again, I'm doing yardwork in the front of my house. An old JW acquaintance of mine gets out. He has gone totally gray and it surprised me enough to blurt out, "Hey, Mark, is that you?" He looked at me, gulped hard, nodded like a deer caught in the headlights, and walked away, head hanging down. I almost burst out laughing. I mean, they seemed utterly frightened......of me!!! I mean, my golly goodness, there are plenty of things to be frightened of or nervous about in this world, but a middle aged friendly dude trimming his hedges on the front lawn is not one of them.
You would think these JWs would feel confident, assured, powerful, peaceful and most of all, loving towards former members. After all, they claim to have the backing of the most powerful super being in the universe, Jehovah God Almighty. But the truth is, there is nothing that scares a JW and gives them the heebie jeebies and gets their knees a knocking like a friendly former member.
I had to laugh when I realized how nervous these poor people get over nothing. I used to be like them. And it feels good not be like them anymore.
Edited by - megadude on 14 August 2002 15:2:27
Edited by - megadude on 14 August 2002 15:5:4