I'm sure this has been done before, but I thought I'd bring it up again for a few laughs.
Every congregation has one. Mentally unbalanced, even downright crazy, sometimes to the extent of disrupting meetings.
I've had two in my years in the Empire.
Alvin L. in my old congregation in Fort Valley. Completely crazy. Spent time in the nut house more than once. Rode a bicycle to the meetings and I mean all the way across town. Now I'll give the guy credit, he really did want to be a Witness and was even babtized. His craziness came in cycles. He'd be gone for a while, then start attending quietly, then ratchet up the antics until finally the elders literally kicked him out of the Hall. Everyone could see it coming. His singing would get louder and louder. He'd raise his hand to comment on nearly every paragraph and when he finally was called on his comment would go on and on and on and he'd always use the same gesture. Looked like he was screwing in a light bulb. Seriously, you can't make this stuff up, that's exactly what the gesture looked like. Finally the conductor would say "ok Alvin, thank you, that's enough". And Alvin would just smile and shut up.
Alvin had three famous episodes that I'd bet people are still laughing about. Now this is all back in the late 70's/early 80's. The first one, we knew something was coming because he showed up to the meeting in the one suit he owned wearing a -- whatever that thing is you tie your drapes back with -- big, gold, and gaudy draped over one shoulder and across his chest. Old Brother Arrington, who never missed the chance for a laugh, asked him about it. Alvin said "oh, last night I slept on my curtains". oooooookaaaaayyyyyyy....Well Brother Arrington thought it was funny, but Brother Arrington is a whole 'nuther story altogether. After the meeting, at which he sang most vigorously during the songs, the elders decided it was time to "talk to him". As they closed in, he tried to walk away but they had him boxed in. So he simply dived backwards and landed flat on his back. For all I know the guy thought he was going to fly, that's kind of how it looked, like Superman taking off except Alvin only made it a few feet. They carried him out of the hall and that was it for a while.
The second time was pretty ugly. His singing during the song before the Sunday WT study got much louder than usual. And that's pretty loud. So a couple of attendants started closing in. This time it got violent and it took 4 or 5 men to restrain him and all the while he was shouting at the top of his lungs, calling on Jehovah to save him and then cursing the attendants. The Sheriff took him away that time.
The last time he was heard from (as far as I know) was at a convention. Alvin showed up and "security" was alerted and several attendants followed his every move. He was carrying a plate and on it was an empty wine glass. Of course he did everyone a favor by sitting on the ground floor so we could all see him. Every time there was applause, Alvin raised and lowered the wine glass like he was toasting the speaker.
The other crazy was in our congregation in Perry. Lavinci P. Extreme paranoid delusions. She had moved to Perry to hide out because her family and everyone else in her hometown were out to kill her and steal the land she claimed to own. Everyone and I mean everyone was out to get her. She was in service with us one time and we passed a group of motorcycle riders heading to Bike Week. Lavinci went nuts, "Bikers! Bikers!" I mean really nearing major panic mode. I calmly pointed out that they were older folks riding Honda Goldwings, not that that did any good. Last time I saw her, face-to-face that is, was when I and my elder stepdad made a call on her in service. We got the usual spiel about who was out to get her and why and then she brought out a loaded .38 and told us she was ready for "them". We left rather quickly because she was crazy and we weren't armed. They won't let you carry guns in Field Service, you know. I did have a little fun with her after I was fired from the Empire though. I delivered pizzas at the time and had some regular customers on her street. So anytime I got one of their deliveries, I'd ride real slow past her house. Soon as I saw her peek through the blinds I'd stop and stare for a few seconds then punch it and drive away quickly. Ok, ok, that was mean but it was a good laugh for a 20-year old kid.
I've taken up enough space. Who were your congregation lunatics?
Mike.