Quote:
Originally Posted by ifst5
Maybe this was all one big misunderstanding? From the outset, it sounds as though this guy didn't know how to respond to you at first - which could just be his general way with people - and when he realized the requirements for becoming a pastor he might have felt that his reactions to people and making friendships needed improvement. To that end he might have been trying to pick up where you left off only to be rebuffed because you've felt that he instantly disliked you and is now out to manipulate purely for his own gains.
I could be completely wrong but you don't go into much detail so i thought i'd explain how this struck me. You've spoken before about your issues with hyper vigilance and over analyzing. If the worst case scenario is true maybe it's better to play this guy at his own game should you ever happen upon him and his wife again - the worst thing for a manipulator is to know they too are being manipulated. So maybe shake his hand next time, smile, exchange a few pleasantries.
As for your wife, obviously she's entitled to her own friendships and opinions...so long as you can make excuses for declining involvement in any future arrangements between the three of them, i don't foresee any other problems. It's unfortunate that she can't better understand your side of things but conversely, if this guy is what you say he is, maybe you can take some comfort in knowing that out of all the people in this world...there probably aren't many like you who see him for what he really is. That's a sort of quiet power that requires sustenance from no one else but it still satisfying for the beholder.
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No. The guy was totally messing with me. That's what is sad about this. There are people like him that are actively looking for victims... and he finds them because some people blame themselves when things get weird in a relationship.
I was glad to be rid of this guy, and had totally forgotten about him until I saw him at a wedding over the weekend. He was all fake smiles, and tried to shake my hand like nothing had ever happened between us.
I don't think you realize how badly I either want to be completely rid of him.. or find some way to publicly expose him for what he is. I'd love to see his fake world come crashing down, as his true character is revealed to everyone around him. I honestly doubt he fools too many people. I've seen some people treat him with profound disrespect, because (I assume) they also know what kind of person he is. One of those people is the wife of the pastor who mentored him (her husband ended up dying and this younger guy took over the church).
ifst. I challenge you to reread your post and become aware of your assumptions. Do you see them? (one hint of an obvious assumption: friendships?).