From Jacob Appleton

Well I’m not much of a writer as per se, but I felt compelled to write up a few comments & thoughts in regards to the recent murder of Angela, suicide of Ricky, & the consequent media hype that has taken place.

I’m a parent of three kids, but wasn’t born into the Family International as many my age were who I’ve met & work with. After living a life of drugs & experiencing all that the hippie era had to offer, my parents joined the Family International, feeling called to do something with their lives. I was five at the time, after which I traveled with my parents throughout India & Pakistan doing missionary & relief work wherever we could. After which I was invited to Thailand to further my experience & studies. I remained in Thailand & southeast Asia for the next 6 years where I met my wife, and since that time I have lived & worked with my family in many countries.

Yes, my friend, a charmed & beautiful life I live compared to many others who never have the opportunity to leave their hometown. I treasure the life I have chosen, & thank God even though it requires a certain amount of sacrifice, to see the smile on a child’s face being cheered up, makes it worth it all.

So you can only imagine how I & others feel towards the media & those who used to dedicate their lives in service to others, in using this tragedy to further their own ends. It is beyond reason that someone or someone’s would stoop so low to drum up the media as much as possible, failing to realize that their own negative influence & plain lies have played a major role in this tragedy.

Sure there was mistakes made in my upbringing, & plenty I would have liked to have experienced & learnt. Being a parent now though I know I can never be the perfect father, but hey which father is? We will all make mistakes, that is part of life & maturing into adulthood. One thing I know though is that life is not a buffet, but what matters most is what you make of your life.

I respect anyone who has chosen to discontinue their life in the Family International to continue in another profession, I’m happy for them as long as they are content with what they have chosen. What I can’t understand is those that cannot face themselves & they’re own lacks & have to place the blame on their parents or in this regards Family International. I think ones like this lose out a lot on life if they are constantly seeking to justify to themselves & others for what amounts to most of the time as their own failings. I hate to speak derogatively of others but can’t help point out to these individuals that they should examine what effect their actions & words are having. What are these ones doing to help out society? Are they man or woman enough to face themselves & make something out of their lives or maybe they can’t think of anything better to do than to tear down the good of others & use it as a means to further themselves.

Anyway I would like to end on this thought that those of us who are continuing as our parents did are proud of doing so & if that is not the life for you, I wish you all the best. For those of you who have chosen to tear down the good that we are all trying to do, I pray that you can move on in life & make something out of yourself instead of boosting yourself through lies, gossip & self-seeking glory. May you some day come to the realization of the harm you have done, as I believe everyone will once he has to give an account of his life to God.

Regards,
Jacob Appleton

Jacob Appleton is a second-generation member of The Family International