The other day I ran into a jw who just happened to be my very friend during my jw days (which were most of my life). So for about 60 years we were each other’s very best friend. We grew up together from about 8 years old and are the same age, now in our early 70’s. We were in the congregation. We went to school together. He was much smarter academically than me but I was a better athlete (and better looking) so we were mutually jealous of each other at times.
We went to jw parties together; we got drunk together, we dated many of the same jw girls back in the day when dating was ‘allowed’. We surfed together, water skied together. We raced our motorcycles and our cars against each other. He was best man in my wedding and I was best man in his wedding. Our wives became good friends and his kids became friends with my kids. So you sort of get the picture.
But, we haven’t been that close for the past 20 years since we don’t live near each other any longer. His wife is a lifelong pioneer (50+ years) and he joined her as a pioneer 6 years ago. I, on the other hand, have been an inactive jw for about 6 years and was pimo for about 5 or 6 year before that. My wife is still active but not a super jw.
Back to our chance meeting. We chatted for a while, then he hit me with: “I was really sad to hear that you have left the “truth.” I thought about it for a moment and then replied; “I didn’t leave the “truth”---the truth left the “truth”. Were we not promised by God’s organization that we would not grow old in this system? Were we not promised that God’s righteous new system would be here within the 20th century?”
He didn’t reply but instead changed the subject. He told me as we parted that we need to continue this discussion at a later date.
“Cool!" I said but inside it hurt like a son-of -a-bitch!
just saying!