When I became a Witness in Ventura, California in 1973. I was 15 years old and in the tenth grade. I was the only one in my family that was active though my mother, step father and my brothers thought the Watchtower was the truth. My step father had been raised a Witness while my family was not affiliated with any particular church. I began studying in March and was baptized that November 25 at the Assembly Hall in Woodland Hills.
Being full of self righteous hot air I offended a Witness friend and wish I could apologize to her in person. Since I have not seen or heard of her in nearly thirty years I am posting this.
Renee was a year or two older then me and a very pretty girl. Gorgeous red hair, long graceful legs. Absolutely beautiful. I had seen her in school before I knew she was a Witness. Of course I had noticed this total babe. But through the lens of the Watchtower I categorized her as a worldly, wanton slut due to the way she dressed. In my addled mind she was the personification of the woman mentioned in Proverbs chapter 5 that leads chaste young men to destruction.
I went to the meeting one Sunday and there was Renee at the Kingdom Hall. How could a girl that dressed so immodestly be in the truth? My great offense was that I told her I was shocked to discover she was a Witness because I thought she dressed immodestly. I saw the hurt in her eyes but my self righteousness had me beaming with delight. A few days later she told me she had cried and prayed to be forgiven if she had done anything to bring reproach on Jehovah.
Renee, I was an ass. I was wrong. There was nothing untoward about you. I was the one with the problem and I am sorry that I cannot tell you in person.