Relocation

The moving of brethren from place to place continues to rumble on. I'm kind of surprised we haven't had another shift in the testimony yet, but this one looks set to continue for a while yet.

Some move of their own accord, some are told to move, some meetings start up where there was none before, others are told to shut down and shift elsewhere. Busy busy busy.

That, I have become convinced, is the key to this one. To use an old cliche, the whole Exclusive Brethren system is like a shark: if it doesn't keep moving, it dies. Brethren need challenges and changes to keep them occupied, and make them feel as though there is meaning in their lives. From my reading, it seems that Communist autocracies know the benefits of grand projects and use them in a similar way. Really, it's an extension to the root philosophy of the brethren, that you will value more what costs you something, and if you keep ramping up the cost, most people will ramp up their appreciation of the paid-for benefits directly in line with that. It's human nature.

In that respect, uprooting brethren and transplanting them elsewhere is a stroke of genius. It has that "big picture" feel, in that each move is adding a small personal push to the overall aim of benefit to the group, even if that benefit is a bit vague for most. It causes enough problems (in all sorts of ways) to feel really virtuous, yet as with all such changes, allows people to feel that they just might be able to make it a change for the better if they play their cards right. And, of course, as it's a divinely-approved and leadership-approved step, it's positively guaranteed to work out well. So personal interest and altruism and management strategy are neatly aligned. Nice thinking.

What's more, it keeps things stirred up. Nobody can build up a fief in shifting population centres, either where people are coming or going. And everybody is too busy trying to sort out the practical details to make other kinds of trouble.

Having said all that, it really annoys me. One positive thing I've learned is that friends are not irreplaceable. But I don't like losing them, even to distance. One thing I can guarantee: if I'm told to move anywhere, I will be gone from the fellowship as quickly as I can arrange it. I'm not likely to go through the wrench of a total swap of acquaintances, work and surroundings without at least gaining my freedom. It might almost be better for those whose meetings are closed down (or entire countries - those poor South Africans), as the bridges are burnt and there's nothing to look back to. Plus, if there's no meeting where you went, you might well fall through the cracks and escape the regular checks to see if you've yet realised how wrong you were to leave.