Hey that's great man! Being spiritually independent of my family was a big boost for me, personally.
How old are you now?
I turned 27 last month, so it's about time I was truly independent from my parents. I think it'll be good being in a congregation where very few people know them, and they can get to know me as me rather than as my father's son. I think it'll also be good to be living close to all the people in my congregation. Right now it's a half hour drive to get to any one's house, whereas I'm right in the middle of the new congregation's territory. In fact, I just found out that there is a family in the new congregation that lives half a block away from me.
very true about just being your father's son. sometimes when you grow up in a congregation, people forget that you are grown up or it's hard to have your own identity. And the truth means so much more when you have to work to prove who you are to people who don't know you. I'm not sure that I'm expressing this right. Does anyone know what I'm getting at?
I know what you mean (I think). I think when you're known for your family or your parents, then people think of you in a certain way, or have certain expectations of you. But if you're in a place where no one knows you, then they can't think anything of you, until you show them who you are as an individual, and not as part of something else.
yeah i agree with this. a new hall is sometimes a chance to get a fresh start without your parents or other "crutches"/
However, on the flip side, when you move to a new hall, people have to adjust to you, learn about you, and there's always the chance that they will pre-judge you based on what they've heard and/or know about you from the past. i'm not saying it SHOULD be like that, but sometimes it happens.
Yes, for that reason I can't wait to get out of the hall Donovan's grown up in. I'm merely "Donovan's wife" there and he's just his father's son.
Perfect example of this: I walked into the hall last night alone (Donovan was sick) and the first thing at least three people said to me was: 'Donovan's not coming?' It's nice that they asked about me, right? I'm not freaking invisible.
awww i'm sorry chica....but were these good friends of your hubby?
Nope. Just random sisters. I felt like Charlie Brown. :(
awww i'm sorry chica! :(
:) Thanks. :) Sometimes I think we all need to hear a talk about sensitivity, ya know?
we do get them, unfortuneatly some just refuse to listen and dont take the counsel for themselves.
True, true.
Yeah. I didn't grow up in the congregation that I'm leaving, but I did start coming back to meetings there, and I have grown a lot since I did. When I think back a few years to what I was like when I first started coming back to meetings, I can't believe how much I've changed.
I definately know what you mean. I think people in my Congregation don't realise I'm actually an old man and have a life.
Just think, you are a few months older than me, and I have 2 kids. Scary isn't it.
me too
See now, I was out on my own for 4+ years and ended up coming back home. I think I was better off spiritually back then. My siblings are not in the truth and 2 of them live in the house and are a nuisance. I have many more headaches. I'm hoping to get out of there soon. And moving to another congregation would be a good move for me too. I've been in the same congregation for 20 years.