From "Calling" to "Drudgery"

[Tzaia]

Many of us became involved with TWI because we felt "called" to do so. People went WoW. People joined the Corp. People gave up almost everything to do what they believed they were "called" to do.

I sense that at some point this calling became drudgery for most. Perhaps you didn't acknowledge that until you were gone, but for those who acknowledge it had become drudgery, how many of you stayed in spite of the drudgery?

When did nearly endless opportunities to gather with like-minded believers (calling) turn into mandatory meetings (drudgery).

When did thinking outside the box (calling) turn into being told what to think (drudgery).

When did doing what you loved to do (calling) turn into to doing what someone else wanted done (drudgery).

When did working to further a belief and for a cause (calling) disintegrate into going through the motions or risk being berated (drudgery)?

When did calling turn into drudgery?

[cheranne]

kinda sucks being the prey of dollar signs.

[Tzaia]

kinda sucks being the prey of dollar signs.

When did you realize that? While you were in, or has that been in retrospect?

[George Aar]

Interesting question for me.

I don't know as I EVER enjoyed the whole WayWorld Religion game. Why in the hell I kept up with it for so long is a real puzzle to me in retrospect.

The endless demands on one's time, the icky religious rituals, the gd classes, and every summer spoiled by schlepping back to the fetid cornfield in Ohio (a really disgusting state, BTW) to play church for the week.

I don't know what in the hell kept me coming back. I really don't. Initially it was real simple. I was sweet on the girl who witnessed to me and wanted desperately to get to "know" her better (yes, in the Biblical sense). After that wore off, what was there? Damned if I know...

Edited December 18, 2008 by George Aar

[waysider]

I would have to say my stint in Fellow laborers was the turning point for me.

I had been involved at the local level for about 3 years before that.

The fantasy of reliving The Book of Acts unraveled slowly and systematically over the two year commitment.

[cheranne]

When did you realize that? While you were in, or has that been in retrospect?

I began to notice during my wow year,and then after sponsering corp people.it is one of those I could kick myself for being an idiot.

[OperaBuff]

Good question. I'll be interested to read more responses.

For me, I can't honestly say that I ever felt a calling. I also had a strong sexual attraction to the guy who first witnessed to me. Oh! My! Gawd! Nothing ever came of it, alas, but that hidden desire carried me on its wings for several months. Learning the Word eventually became very important to me, and it remains so today. Does all that add up to a calling? I don't know. I heard no audible voice from God, saw no snowy gas pumps, created no tax dodge of a corporation, bought no real estate holdings.

The fact that I left after just two years means the drudgery only began to affect me. It became obvious to me that so much of the daily activities and meetings etc were just busywork. I felt myself becoming somewhat brain dead -- unchallenged in any meaningful way, not supported in ways that I needed support. When that hit me, it was not difficult to put TWI in my rear-view mirror.

It was a mentally liberating day in my life when I fully realized that The Way does not own the Bible. They never claimed to, I know, but they sure had me believing they did there for a while.