waysider

Thanks, OCW I guess my wife is a bit like you in one respect. Her dad's job was not military.(Though he is a decorated WWII Vet) They moved all up and down the East Coast with his work. So, to her, home is not a geographic place either. On the other hand, all her family happens to live nearby so maybe it really is. They have simply moved the whole family to a different location. Thanks for your reply.

You got me on that one. I'll probably do one of these when I hear the answer.

Is this it?

It makes a WHOLE LOT OF SENSE to me, Ham. That describes much of how I feel. Thanks.

I'm a bit curious as to how many people went "back home" after their TWI experience. As I stated on another thread, "going back home" was actually part of the concept of Fellow Laborers(or at least as it was presented to me.) One of my biggest regrets in life is that I never went "back home". I know there are people who say they have no regrets. Personally, I think they are fooling themselves. But, then again, maybe they don't. (have regrets) Yes, I know, people from secular backgrounds find themselves living in locations that are far away from where they started but we're not really talking about them, now are we? Here I am, over 30 years later, in a place I never dreamed I would be living. It's not all bad, don't get me wrong. The weather is certainly better. I have a wonderful wife and a son who was just accepted into a special scholars' program. I'm very proud of him for all the hard work it has taken for him to get to that point. My house is nothing special but no one could realistically ask for better neighbors than I have. But, there's no going back now because, what once was, now no longer exists. And so my question is this: Did your involvement with TWI affect where you chose to settle?

Thanks for you response, skyrider. That means more to me than you may realize.

Thanks, excie That hit me on several levels. First, because I saw Alison in a local venue about 10 years ago in what was one of the most memorable shows I have ever been to. Secondly, the images so closely resembled the area surrounding The Limb of Ohio HQ, it was uncanny, especially the foot bridge and wild flowers. And last, but not least, because the lyrics(and music) are so haunting and beautiful. Thanks!!!!!

Maybe I don't belong on this thread because I was never in the corps. I don't know. You be the judge. When I went into Fellow Laborers in 1975, there had only been a couple of corps that had graduated. The program was somewhat patterned after certain aspects of those early years of the corps. (ie: morning fellowship, run down the road and back, work on the ministry property, special advanced teaching sessions, etc.) The program was pitched to me as an opportunity to study the Book of Acts, both academically and in practical application, for 2 years, and then return to our home areas as better equipped leaders. I had no desire to move up some sort of corporate ladder. I was already functioning as a twig area coordinator and class instructor. Well, what I actually got was an education in what it is like to live in a commune in the middle of nowhere. There was very little academic curricula to speak of. And, maybe that's a good thing because there was no free time provided to study or even just read The Word, anyhow. When we graduated, much to our surprise, we were given assignments that involved moving to areas that were NOT our hometowns. These were areas where there was little or no TWI activity or areas where people had started to drift away. Not at all what I had bargained for but I had already invested two years of my life into this thing. There were some options. The first option was, of course, to move where you were told to move. (This, by the way, was promoted as being a "revelation inspired" move.) Or, you could go back home, try to fit back in and explain why you came back home instead of following the "revelation inspired" directive to do otherwise. Or, you could go into the corps and justify your move as being drawn to an even higher calling. Or, finally, you could just say, "screw you, I'm done" and go back home to a place where you had burned all your bridges two years prior to graduation. Well, I moved to the town I was assigned to and I'm still here 30+ years later. Lots of things change in 30 years; you get married, you get divorced, you change jobs, you buy a house, you have kids, and so on. The point is, here I am 30+ years later in a place I never, in my wildest dreams, imagined my simple two year "commitment" would lead me. Maybe there's a parallel in there somewhere and maybe there isn't. All I know is that it wasn't at all what I signed up for 30+ years ago.

You might want to refer to the "Toughen You Up" thread as well. I started that thread to keep this one on topic. http://www.greasespotcafe.com/ipb/index.php?showtopic=16759

Sheesh!! If it's this hard explaining it to someone who was in The Way, no wonder it's near impossible to explain it to someone who wasn't.

That's two of my all-time favorite performers. (And a great (2) songs, to boot!) Thanks

You got it, bfh!!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7d2XN7dv7hQ

More clues: This song made it to #1 on the Billboard charts. It was the only solo hit for the artist, though he did have many hits with his band.

Your dreams were your ticket out.

jen-o Don't feel slighted if OM doesn't answer you right away. He typically only posts on weekdays.

It was a CULT. How hard is that to comprehend? If it walks like a duck, if it quacks like a duck----------------------------> (I think you know the rest.)

Hi, Roy It takes a lot of guts to put yourself out there like that. I commend you. Holy hugs, Bro waysider

Well the names have all changed since you hung around. But those dreams have remained and they're turned around.

AHA! That's the clue I needed. The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys-------Traffic

The same could be said for the "soap" schemes. Forget the numbers and look at the percentages. Tens of thousands have poured money and/or labor into this scheme over the years. Maybe up to 100,000 people, I don't really know. And then you contrast that to the ones who hung in there through the years? The percentage has to be pitifully low. And don't forget, the ones who DID hang in there, continued to be a source of revenue and provided recruitment efforts while they stayed.

Man, oh man. What the heck is so darned hard to understand about this junk? They were never interested in "training" people to go forth as mighty leaders. Every person who enrolled represented a potential source of income, whether it be from sponsorship, ABS, free labor or a "generous" donation to the "let's buy DOCTOR an Indian Motorcycle, 'cause it'll bless his heart" fund. What's more, it was set up like a multi level marketing (MLM) organization. (I bring Joe in, Joe brings Bob in, Bob brings Oscar in and on and on and on.) They wanted people to fizzle out. Sort of a self pruning effect. Make way for the new blood who can still bring in a bunch of new prospects who in turn will bring in more new prospects. (And all the time bringing in a new source of cash flow) Kinda like the soap selling guys. Bring in all your friends and family and maybe some outsiders. But when you've reached the saturation level, who really needs you? Romanticize all you want if it makes you feel less foolish, but that's the big picture that comes into focus if you stand far enough away to see it.

That's some really sweeeet! stuff there, socks. Steve just keeps getting better and better. BTW-- For for who have never heard of Curtis Salgado, he is an amazing harp player/vocalist who has been around for years and years. Last year he was gravely ill and required a liver transplant. Happy to report that the last I heard he has recovered quite nicely and has resumed the life of a road warrior. Oh,yeah--Forgot to mention---When John Belushi was in production with Animal House, he caught Curtis' act and it inspired him to make another movie called>>>> The Blues Brothers.

Sorry, I was already gone. I do remember, though, back in the 1970's, quite a big deal was made out of saying that "pharmakia"(sp?) had to have been talking about illicit use of drugs and that use of any kind of drugs could lead to debuhl po-ze-shun.

Maybe the snow was really covering little pink elephants.