Posts by Pickler

49

Books that make you go hmm....

by jgnat in

jw
friends

it's occurred to me that i have been reshaped by the books i have read, taking my new knowledge for granted, and forgetting that those around me have not been on the same journey.

as a consequence sparks fly, as iron sharpening iron, as we strive to understand each other (or to insist that we are not the same).

there are a few books that stand out, as i refer to them over and over again.

Pickler

I love a well stocked bedside table full of books, currently I have :

Richard Dawkins - reading the god delusion and the magic of reality

Reading atheists literature has been deeply rewarding, I'm also looking forward to getting to crisis of conscience but its expensive so will have to wait a bit...

All time favorites that I've read over & over:

the secret history by Donna Tartt :( the loneliness of adolescence, not fitting in & wanting to belong + suspense!

Freedom by Jonathan Franzen, it's extremely well written, we have more freedom than ever before & we still manage to stuff it up in so many ways. I think it resonated with me because JW taught that worldly freedom is easy, and it's not.

We need to talk about Kevin by Lionel shrivel, I've read this before & after kids - messes with your head! Ahhhhhhh parenting!!!!

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel, I don't like historical novels but I loved this :) it's genius!! Politics & religion!!!

53

Okay kids!!I need prayers, karma, or good thoughts

by mouthy in

jw
friends

i went to shut my door ( it has ice in the ledge) i shoved it with my side ugh!!!.

if i laugh or cough i near die with pain.i went to the hospital for xrays.

it is a torn muscle.

Pickler

Take care of yourself, hope you feel better soon. A rum or 2/3 may help? Or red wine, whatever?

I just watched the documentary "sick" on the US health system & I'm glad to realize you are Canadian!

10

Short Introduction and Reply to Lazarus

by Fading Begins in

hi lazarus - i'm new here, and i'm a little disturbed by some of the judgmental comments i have read here concerning your situataion.

isn't that what the borg has done to all of us?

each individuals situation can only be judged if that person walks in your shoes.

Pickler

Hey fading, my daughter has CF, it's very tough, thanks for sharing your perspective

13

What about the ones who WATCHED THE PATIENT DIE?

by Terry in

i was deep into my jehovah's witness life pre 1975 as the drumbeat to that mysterious yet specific date loomed large.. it was presented as a countdown to jehovah's promise of a 1000 year reign.

"how fitting" was the popular phrase!.

but, it was more like a countdown of a different sort.. .

Pickler

If they win, they win big.

If they lose....well they've already lost family, friends, marriages, careers, financial security, the only thing that makes sense is to keep on playing.....I've never thought of it like this, it fits!

26

Anyone still "in" that is feeling physically sick??

by lostinnj83 in

i really think that staying "in" just for family and friends is doing a number on my health.

i am currently in therapy for the mental part of all of this but i am phsyically sick every time i have to get ready to go to the meeting or service.

i get heart palpitations as well.

Pickler

Hey, everyone's saying it, it's your body screaming out to you! Don't ignore it.

Help your body through this, be kind to it. Anything helps, but it has to be everyday, because its a learned skill and you need to make it a habit. What makes you feel good physically, be it exercise, food, meditation, running, swimming, massage. Schedule it in your diary & do it very day!

My experience in life tells me that you can only force yourself into the pattern of living that youve described for so long...until snap, one day you will be getting ready to go to the meetings & suddenly you will lose it & you could takes months/years to recover. Don't let it happen to you.

No one should feel physically sick like you described.

good luck to you

43

So Your Husband Is Thinking of Becoming A Jehovah's Witness

by LoisLane looking for Superman in

i want to share with you, things your husband can demand from you, because, well he is the man and you are not.

i don't know if you have read about jw's sex lives and what is allowed and isn't.. no oral for anybody.

no masturbation for anybody.

Pickler

If I couldn't hear snoring coming from upstairs I'd be certain that hoser = my husband!

lois, you make me so glad I didn't marry in TT.

23

That sweet, tingling feeling...

by MsGrowingGirl20 in

that sweet, tingling feeling you get, no matter how hard life is at the time, when you remember that you're free.

that feeling reminds you that it's okay to not be sure about everything and it's okay to love persons even if they don't read the same literature or hold the same views as you.. it's okay to make mistakes because the people who love you will not pull back their love and association because of it.. the persons who are around you genuinely love you and are not just trying to portray 'love' because it looks good to 'potential' sheep.. it's even okay to try new things and it isn't a bad thing when you're actually enjoying life.. i don't have to try to be someone that i'm not and my worth is not, not.... my worth is not measured by a number on a piece of paper.. i can go through life at my own pace and i can be different.. that feeling reminds me that i can be myself!.

i know that you get that feeling also.

Pickler

You get to make friends based on actually liking people, having something in common, not just having to be friends because your roughly the same age & in the same congregation.

33

Questions by JWs in 1976

by Doug Mason in

in 1976, my friend bruce price was in contact with jehovahs witnesses who had become disillusioned through the debacle with 1975. bruce was the leading voice among the sda ministry in working for jws.

at the time, i was a member of the sda church.

although i left them about 25 years ago, to this day bruce and i enjoy a strong and genuinely warm friendship.. so, in 1976 bruce invited me to a meeting with one of the jws who was leading the disquiet in his congregation in dandenong (victoria, australia).

Pickler

I want this link too!

34

Getting my first tattoo

by akafreelife in

jw
friends

well on wednesday i am going to be getting my first tattoo.

i have had this particular piece of art that i have wanted for years but was too afraid to put it to skin as it will require a great amount of detail.

but i finally decided to go for it.

Pickler

This is what I like to see in tattoos, something really beautiful, hope you post pictures after!

81

Why I didnt left JW an dont plan to do so

by Lazarus in

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in another thread i wrote: i didn't left the jw's and don't plan to do so.

Pickler

Hey Lazarus, I am DFd.

Only a few times in my life have I experienced a kind of divine moment, one was at my JC...when they sent me out of the room so they could discuss/pray,

I sat in the kitchen and suddenly I was overcome with strong emotions, I wanted out, my biggest fear was that they were just going to reprove me.

I believe that I needed that moment in order to access that feeling, if you know what I mean? That extreme situation forced me to confront my true feelings. Us JW have been taught not to trust or believe our own instincts, because they are flawed, imperfect. So we don't. I didn't want to be in TT for many years, but I stayed, why? I still can't really explain it.

20 years later I still struggle with simply doing what I want, I am trying, but it's tough.

Do what you want & what will make you happy now, if staying in the org will make you most happy, great! If you are not sure, can you take some time out? A retreat of sorts?

Good luck to you whatever you decide!