Leaderboard

March 8, 1989: When the trustees made that "formal announcement" that they were no longer in agreement with chris geer (and admonitions to "get back to the Word" with geer at helm).....it brought cheers and celebration to many. From what I remember, it was JP Wierwille himself (working as dept coordinator of shipping/receiving) who coined that day as "Independence Day at the Way." The pressure valves were releasing a tension and pent-upped stress.......heck, the trustees started being friendly again. For months, the sunday teachings were gentle, and simple, and caring. The 1989 rock of ages had the same approach.......slow-down, take time for others, appreciation. Heck, from the main stage.....the trustees displayed this thank-you message to corps, staff, and followers. Would this last? Would it take root? Would it grow? Maybe my recollections of this are fuzzy......my wife and I were on the field with two little toddlers just out of diapers. As young parents, we spent plenty of time watching the first baby steps, new words, love squeezes of pure innocence, and smiles that warmed our hearts. What was happening at twi was NOT our world......at the moment. Sure, we were involved and had relatives on twi-payroll......but everything seemed notched back to a slower pace. It felt good. We had corps friends in.......1) geer group, 2) lynn group, 3) wait-and-see group, 4) don't-care-anymore group, and GASP, 5) life-is-more-than-just-bible-study group. Many of our friends were in that young parenting group, as well. Kids' birthday parties, Chuckie Cheese, fun at the park, swimming, zoo visits, etc......yeah, life. For a change. But.......we still had this caring concern to help others. And, opportunities to serve came knocking. By the spring of 1991, I was in a better position to "serve." And, how does one best serve?......by opening your home twice a week to bible fellowship. More involvement, more opportunities......... The Game of Incrementalism One day towering corn was born They Thought They Were Free (the Germans 1933-45) by Milton Mayer From the book "They Thought They Were Free (the Germans 1933-45)" by Milton Mayer. One section, chapter 13, discusses how gradually the abuses of the Nazi's worsened, and how this was tolerated by the German people. "Each step was so small, so inconsequential, so well explained, or on occasion, 'regretted,' that unless one were detached from the whole process from the beginning, unless one understood what the whole thing was in principle, what all these 'little measures' that no 'patriotic German' could resent must some day lead to, one no more saw it developing from day to day than a farmer in his field see the corn growing. One day it is over his head." .