So since I have not been to any meetings in like 2 months because of health issues, I had to decide what to do about the memorial. My health has improved quite a bit and I feel much better than I did 2 months ago. I could still have used the "not feeling well" card and stay home. But since only my wife knows about my disagreements with this cult, and to avoid upsetting the balance, I decided to go.
A few weeks back, we had a brief discussion and I referred to her that it had not gone unnoticed that no one had bothered to come see me. She had mentioned that one of the elders wanted to and communicated so to her but he never did. She said everyone kept on asking about me. I said I was referring to an actual visit, not a scripted proxy greeting. Since that discussion, she made it a point to relate to me every greeting that they are sending to me thru her. Every time she came back from a meeting she would say... so and so says hi!. so and so asked about you.
So I also figure, when I attend the memorial, lets see how many of them actually come to me. Well, there is also this brothers, whom I use to play soccer with for like 3 years. Every Sunday, the whole congo would get together after the meeting to play soccer and this guy was there. Later on he married and moved out of state. He is a real dedicated and spiritual brother and every now and then he comes back to the congo to visit his parents. So he was one of the many who send his regards thru my wife, as he happened to be in town for the week. I figure that we don't really see each other anymore so he actually meant it.
Moving on to last night, we walked into the hall and there was a line of brothers and sisters (at least 12 of them) on each side of the door, greeting everyone who came in. It almost seemed fabricated (would not shock me if it was).
Total tally for the night? Those at the door were the only ones who bothered shacking my hand or my wife's hand for any matter. I don't believe this has anything to do with our spiritual situation, they simply did not care to see me there. And the brother that used to play soccer with me? We sat in the row right in front of him. When we were done, not even eye contact.
Again, at no point did I sense this was shunning. It was more like I never left. I say so because that is about how it felt before. So much for the loving brotherhood that it is so interested in me and my welfare. Its all words...