This thread has been cathartic for me - and Claire, too, though she seldom posts - and has been a roller-coaster ride. The main reason I keep bringing it back to the top, however, is in the hope that others will derive some encouragement from it. There are more newbies here than I can count since I first started posting and inevitably they will know nothing about my situation.
On first leaving Watchtower Claire and I really were emotionally drained and felt as though we were in mourning. 19 years is a l-o-n-g time to be associated with the organisation and on finding the truth about the cult we knew we had to immediately cut ourselves off - at the time leaving family members (our two daughters) and many "friends" behind. We were shunned and I received some extremely hurtful comments from my older daughter in a letter.
Happily, our younger daughter, Stephanie, is well and truly out of Watchtower now and our hope is that Jody and her husband will eventually see that our stand is right. We have so enjoyed meeting new and TRUE friends here and thoroughly enjoying 'worldly' celebrations like birthdays and Christmas - and Apostafests (we even organised one!!)! My goodness, how I just love Christmas!!
I fully understand how difficult it is for many here to exit like Claire and I did. Many are trying to fade, their pain excrutiating but they hide it and all because they are afraid of losing family. Emotional blackmail is the cult's greatest weapon - and they know it!
I really don't know how I would have reacted if no one had joined me in my exit! I love Claire passionately and if she had stayed inside Watchtower my heart would have been crushed. Fortunately, she came out with me - but others aren't so fortunate, which is why the likes of Gumby have to try for reinstatement. They know it's all a great BIG lie but family ties keep them in. How dispicable the organisation really is!
In my moment of joy, just when I was really starting to live, I found out I had cancer. I have been fighting it for the past three years - but once again the folks here rallied round and offered so much love and encouragement. It worked, for so far I have beaten the prognosis. I am still not out of the woods and am literally fighting for my life. I need an urgent stem cell transplant: http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/132092/1.ashx
Whatever happens, I have never regretted - not for one moment - leaving Watchtower. I cannot live a lie!
If this thread inspires and encourages it will have achieved its goal. I fully intend to continually bring it back to the top - one day in the hope that Jody's name will finally be included with the rest of my family.
Love,
Ian