SA30 - Keep Growing in Your Love

Daniel had just turned 21, an age where friendships were supposed to bloom like wildflowers, but Daniel was still struggling to find his place among his peers in the congregation.

His frustration had been simmering for some time now. The first group of friends he had made only seemed interested in him because he had easy access to his mother’s car. They liked to go places, and he was their ticket to adventure. It stung to realize that they were not really that into him as a friend; they were just along for the ride.

The second group he tried to befriend soon distanced themselves from him. They felt he was too much of a stickler for doing things right, always quoting scriptures and insisting on 'the proper way' to conduct themselves, but this wasn’t his way at all. He was very cool about most things but felt a need to draw a line when it came to upholding Jehovah’s principles. Still, they found his sincerity off-putting, and Daniel felt like an outsider among those who should have been his closest companions.

One evening, as he sat alone in his room, he couldn't help but wonder what it was like for young people in other congregations around the world. Did they also feel isolated and frustrated? Did they have friends who genuinely cared about them? He longed for a chance to find out.

As things seemed to work out in his favor, an announcement was made at the Kingdom Hall. A Special Convention was coming to his home city, and congregants from 19 countries from all over the world would be invited. As a delegate, he too would have the opportunity to travel to 1 of 9 other places, and Daniel was elated at the prospect of finally meeting people of his age and mindset from distant lands.

With high hopes, he filled out the application to become a delegate. But when the response came, his heart sank. His application had been rejected. Yes, it was yet another blow to his already bruised self-esteem, and he felt doomed to a life of isolation as he withdrew into what he felt was the meaningless routine of being in attendance at his congregation meetings.

That was until an elder approached him, Brother Martinez, and invited him for coffee. They needed as many volunteers as possible to set up and serve all the delegates that would soon be flooding into the city for the special convention. Having been used by others before, Daniel hesitated to accept this invitation, but after looking at the excitement on Brother Martinez’s face, he grudgingly agreed to help out.

From the moment he arrived at the convention site, his strong back and sturdy hands were put to good use. He cleaned, set up tents, put together welcome baskets, carried supplies, and greeted the delegates with a warm embracing smile. He soon realized that by showing love and helping his fellow brothers and sisters, he was not just benefiting them, but himself as well.

As he worked tirelessly alongside other volunteers, he struck up conversations and made friends with young people from congregations he didn’t know existed, all there also lending a helping hand. To his amazement, they had so much in common, and as they worked tirelessly together, their bonds grew stronger with each passing day.

But what really excited Daniel was meeting a group of young delegates from Seoul, South Korea. They were warm, kind-hearted, full of infectious enthusiasm, and most importantly, very interested in the young friends from the host city. They spent several nights together, got to know Daniel and his newfound friends, and invited them to visit their beautiful country, and together, they made definite plans to explore Seoul and deepen their friendships.

In the end, Daniel realized that love was more important than knowledge or natural abilities. He had found genuine friends who appreciated him for who he was. Even though he wasn’t selected to be a delegate, volunteering at the convention was a transformative experience for him, and he couldn't help but feel grateful that Brother Martinez encouraged him to freely give his time and labor to assist in making the convention a huge success.

The lesson he took away from this experience was profound. Whenever he felt unwanted, unneeded, or uninvited, he knew that withdrawing from the congregation was not the solution. Instead, he would get involved more, by doing little things like greeting others as they arrive at a congregation meeting, commenting at the meetings, assisting the elderly friends who may need assistance, even visiting with infirmed elderly friends in their homes, and in doing so, he would find not only a sense of purpose but also the friendships and love he had been yearning for all along.

Do you have a comment that did not get mentioned during the Watchtower study? What encouraging observations would you like to point out? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment below.