Hello All,
The WALK, CLW, TLW - Does the chameleon, really change colors?
This is a most interesting thread with some meaningful conversations.
I have "Ben" THare" and experienced most of it. I held the TLW idiosyncratic beliefs for about a decade. Then, I became a 'BenT''Hare',looking for a way out.
Many years have passed for me since the TLW insanity. I have had a chance to heal, recover, and refocus my life. Time has helped my perspective. I have also benefited from the assistance of a very close friend. We battled OUT together. My turning point came after a lengthy discussion with William "dad" Stevens. He provided another needed perspective for me, and allowed me to see past the smoke and mirrors. (I am not sure that he ever knew how that conversation helped me) I knew at that moment, that my journey was about to take a turn. I had to take the fork in the road. It was my time. I had also benefitted from several conversations with Francis Frangipane. He understood my plight. My plan to exit was met with a lot of resistance, and of course, my name went on a blacklist. I was marked. But that, turned out to be the boost I needed.
[*] I had finally admitted and recognized the abuse that I was in
[*] I had pondered long and deep about my condition and knew it was not getting better
[*] I had developed my plan to leave enough times in my mind that I knew it would work
[*] I executed my plan to leave
[*] I found a safe haven, almost a halfway house to make the transition
[*] I was prepared for the attempts to get me back and recriminate me
[*] I relied on my convictions and beliefs, even from my 4 yr old experience
[*] I sought help and meaning along the way and remained determined
What followed, was years of doubt, rejection, confusion, and PAIN. Raw PAIN. I had left everything that I believed to be sacred. I had invested everything that I had into the WALK. I was without resource to leave but knew that I need to get out. It was in many ways, starting over. I am fortunate is some ways. I did make it out. Still healing, but out.
I knew a few others that had left TLW movement. After conversations with them, over several years, I finally got the courage to call TLW a 'cult'. I knew it, but just could not say it. Weird how conditioning works. It felt strange at first, almost like I had betrayed a friend. I still find remnants of thought and terminology popping out from those days. What I observed in others was what I also found in myself. There was a need to become re-oriented, re-tuned, and balanced.
I was raised a Christian. I accepted Christ at age 4. I detest the term "Christian", always have, but it conveys my background adequately for discussion here. I am very much a believer in Christ, even today. In my WALK/TLW experience, I believed I was following Christ. Eventually, I saw how HE had been substituted by others and other things. Most of the replacements have been discussed here on this forum. At that moment, I was truly lost. What had I done? It became clear to me, that I had to find my way back to Christ. Ironically, the TLW provided no true assistance. The bad fruit, and lack of good fruit - was evidence enough, that I was in the wrong place.
As I work out a path for the rest of my life, I find
reflection a necessary element. The words of JESUS CHRIST provide my best guidance, they always have.
I am sure that several of you have crossed the path of my life before this forum. I was in 3 different local churches and had an extended stay at Shiloh. While we may have taken alternate pathways, we come here to reflect and possibly encourage.
I may find myself here amongst others with (possibly), differing viewpoints. That is not important to me. What I really found, is a place of commons. I am grateful for the forum and Rick Ross for hosting it.
To each of you, I salute you in YOUR journey to make sense of the experiences and the balance of
your journeys.
BenTHare, now a little more
AWare