Trina, thanks for the reassurance. Sometimes I feel like I can't think straight any more—like I'm too close to an idea or story to even know what it's really about. (Or maybe I'm just too tired to put it all together!) And you've gotten to the heart of the matter when it comes to community: "letting go of perfectionism, yet still striving to be/do ones best" and the importance of finding a "place of acceptance." Exactly. 

Dave, as a Mac user for 15+years, I like that analogy! But at the same time, even the best church communities, like the best marriages, require a lot of work. I don't want to paint a picture of a perfect church full of perfect people—that would be ironic, in the midst of all the brokenness and imperfection that makes it what it is. Also, I'm willing to put a lot more time and maintenance into a community than into my computer! :) Anyway, I really like how you're pondering what church is for you: “Church is were I can rest, communicate, question, ponder, hug, laugh, cry, and love." I guess it's the ability to accommodate complexity that makes a church community right for me.

Emma, thanks so much for spending time at my blog, and for your really well-thought comment. I love this sort of "critique"—it makes me think harder about the words I choose and what I'm really trying to say. I'm definitely going to take all of your thoughts and questions to heart as I continue working on the website copy. Regarding the particular points you shared your thoughts about, I noticed a slight theme: I think I am compensating (perhaps over compensating, maybe mostly subconsciously) for the self-righteous Christian stereotype. I am stressing "brokenness" and "no knowing" and "not getting everything right," while you are rightly pulling me back a bit, to a place of more balance. I still think I will find myself leaning toward my initial stance, but it's also important for me to acknowledge all that is possible with God. Thanks for the reminder!

Meredith, I love that Gandhi quote, too. Jesus was all about people—about focusing on love rather than on the religious laws that used to dictate every action people took (or didn't take). We have our own versions of laws now, and we love to pull them out when we need excuses for why we've treated someone a certain way, or neglected someone's needs. Anyway, I *do* obviously feel very blessed to be a part of this faith community (I even met my husband there!), but as I mentioned in my response to Dave, I want to be careful not to portray it as perfect. We have a lot to learn and figure out together as we go—therein lies the beauty, I suppose.