I was wondering what some of you might make of this. . .
A friend of mine who is still somewhat active just told me about something interesting that happened in his congregation a week or two ago during the WT study. A publisher raised his hand to comment and related an experience he had while doing magazine work in a parking lot (ugggghhhh!!!) one recent Saturday morning. He approached two women leaving a grocery store and tried desperately to place a few mags (I know this particular brother and he always pushes the hard sell), anyhow, after a few minutes of haggling the women told him outright “that they used to be Jehovah’s Witnesses but they are HAPPY now.”
My friend said that after this comment was made, the whole congregation went silent for about 30 seconds. You could have heard a pin drop. Even the WT conductor blanked out. Then of course he passed over it as if nothing was ever said.
We talked about this and agreed that they are so conditioned to expect only disgruntled mouthings of misery and emotional desolation from those who have left, that it stunned them to hear anyone blatantly admit to feeling otherwise. My friend also said he felt that those two women were speaking the inner feelings of most of the publishers present – even if none of them would dare to openly entertain the possibility themselves. Or would want to admit, even for a moment, that there is an opportunity for happiness outside of the Kingdom Hall.
After all, THEY are the happiest people on earth. Right? I mean that’s what they tell us. . . and aren’t all who leave miserable slugs for the rest of their lives?
Noting the effect this caused (the man who commented would never have said anything if this hadn’t bothered him deeply) led me to think that the next time a JW knocks on my door, I’ll tell him the same thing.