During my last and final visit this was brought to my awareness
Backstory:
Towards of the end of January, I chose to walk away from a synagogue that I had been attending off and on for many years. Even though I kept trying to make it work, I ran into several issues with the other people there. Not only was I at the bottom of their lists but they were very unfriendly and quite rude at times. Just about everytime I went, I would walk away feeling very upset.
In the meantime, I had found another house of worship where the people seem to be the complete opposite. I am a lot happier there as well.
On Friday and Saturday, I decided to reach out and them know that I had left.
- During Friday, I logged onto their private platform and posted a thank you note for everything they did and taught me and that it was time to move on
- On Saturday, I also felt led to visit one more time so I could bury the hatchet. During my visit, I did not expect much from those people. I felt awkward around them because they were rude, unfriendly, and fake. Still, I went to do what I had to and then left
Upon leaving, I noticed a few things
- I felt mildly drained and exhausted after being around them, when helped me realize how toxic that congregation is. I felt relieved when I was back on the bus and that synagogue was behind me. On the way home, I realized that I don't ever have to see those people again.
- After finally working through my emotions on Saturday, I came to realization that none of those people ever looked like they were very happy people.
As a friend at work pointed out, that is their problem
@Summershy a place of worship should not be draining and unfriendly. I'm very glad you have a new place where you feel welcome 💖 I think your friend might be right, so don't give them a second thought💖 hugs you tightly 💗I'm glad things worked out for you 💗
Thank you so much Whisper. When I went to speak my peace and say goodbye most of them were polite. However, they were not sincere and nor were they interested about my new chapter at the new place.
Rather, their attitude was “Just do what you need to do a get lost if you don’t wanna be here.”
Then when I posted on their platform, I planned on letting my post stay on there main wall for a few days. However, when I went back there on Saturday evening, they had already deleted my page. When I saw that I thought to myself “Well then.” It goes to show me how much they really cared about me.
@Summershy leave them be in the past, you are in a better place now 💖
Thanks for bringing that up. Being that I stayed home yesterday, the new congregation offers services online. Just watching online, everything felt like a right fit. Even the energy was positive and alive
I should also mention that I had planned on deleting my account a few days after I posted my goodbye. Then when I went to delete it they already did me the honors.
@Summershy a place of worship needs to be uplifting, peaceful, reverent, where people practice what they preach and are an example of their teachings. Being rude or disingenuous is not reflective of that, you sound like you are now in a better place and if you weren't appreciated, their loss and not yours, wishing you the best in your new place of worship and I hope it brings true fulfillment to your life 🥰💜
When I was there saying goodbye, one of them mentioned to me “We’re your real family anyway.” That’s hilarious because neither he nor his wife treated me like a member of their family during lunch on Saturday. For instance, his wife was very cold and hardly said a word to me. He also seemed cold too. They also seemed like they were mad at me for leaving and trying another congregation.
@Summershy family treat you properly, in these situations you need to trust your own instincts. The way people make you feel speaks volumes in itself 🥰
@Amanda84
I know and what a joke that is. They never treated me like family and were never there for me or supported me. Still, I heard a lot of cheap words from other people on Saturday. "Hey, I had been thinking about you." They also said "You have to go where you are led,"
However, not all of them are like that. There is one lady and her wonderful husband who were the nicest out of all of them. When I happened to be headed out, I bumped into her and explained myself. She was the most supportive out of all of them.
@Summershy I'm glad she was supportive, as a person of faith, I try to be the person that would want other people to change, if I'm not a good example, how can I be what Jesus called me to be? 🥰
@Amanda84
That's funny you mention that because this synagogue believes that Jesus is Messiah. However, I had outgrown that place and the Lord recently led me to a wonderful non demoninational church to grow in him.
@Summershy and I hope that your journey is incredible 🥰
@Amanda84
I think it will be. The Lord has already been so good to me for many years and I know he will continue to be. Unlike that synagogue, the Holy Spirit is alive and well there and I see revival happening too.
@Summershy the holy spirit is alive and well in you 🥰
@Summershy
@YveeTheDuck
Thanks for supporting me too
@Summershy Unfortunately that is often the case that people who are like that are themselves unhappy inside or jealous for some reason. And it's a shame because it might turn people away from religion altogether if they are new and aren't welcomed with love and acceptance. You did the right thing by just moving on to worship in a better environment. And hopefully now you will have a positive experience and make real connections. :)
I had a chance to do some more thinking about the situation this evening. I really had nothing in common with any of those people. I think that was the bigger issue there.