Taking on the Bible

Over the past 5 or 6 months I have slowly welcomed two Jehovah Witness's into my home. The reason is, they are nice.

They started out by handing me a Watchtower magazine until last week when they gave me a bible. I always thought there was a bible in my house. My mother had a bible (or so I thought) which is now mine. Turns out it is a prayer book of some sort.

Over the past couple of weeks, it has been too cold to stand in the doorway with the door open to listen to them or to ask questions so I let them into the hallway. Last week they were welcomed to my dining room table. I wasn't feeling well and didn't want to stand in the doorway.

I was raised Catholic but have attended Catholic and Lutheran over the last 30 years but I do not know the bible and it wasn't until last week that I learned how to read the bible.

My JH friends have a lot of patience and answer all my questions with scripture.

What have I asked?

Who is Jehovah and what are you witnessing?

How do we know the bible wasn't written by some Stephen King dude sitting in a dark room wasting his time away?

What is your goal? Why do you come to my home every week?

Are you looking for money?

Why are all these numbers in the bible? It makes it hard to read.

Are you volunteers or does your church pay you?

Not to get into a long post about religion, so I will only answer if you ask me what they said but I find them interesting. Religion is religion when you think about it. We all fall under the same umbrella.

I am sure there are some fanatics out there who are appealed at my questions (my husband was too). This is certainly not to poke fun at Jehovah Witness's or any other religion nor am I making light of religion.

If you know me, you know I fall under the "whatever" umbrella. Whatever works for you and makes you happy is what is right. It might not be right for me, but it is right for you so that's cool dude.

Seriously, when a friend asked me last week why I am reading the bible with the Jehovah Witness's and not at my church I said, "they come to my door, gave me a bible and only stay on my terms." My church isn't doing that.

A few weeks ago when they came I was watching General Hospital. I ran out when my husband opened the door just long enough to tell them that it was sweeps week and I didn't want to miss General Hospital. They said, "see you next week" and thanked me for my honesty.

There are a lot of misconceptions about Jehovah Witness's and I am learning a lot. They are just like you and I but they dedicate themselves to the bible.

You have to respect people who can pull scripture and apply it to anything I ask. They make me think and look forward to their visits.

I am not looking to become a Jehovah Witness but I believe that everything happens for a reason. They came here, I opened the door and we connected. I have longed to read the bible and understand it. With them I don't feel silly asking the questions that might embarrass me if I were asking a preacher or priest. It just works.