Krissy, isn't that interesting, that we tend to see some people as closer or more connected to God because they are "professionals" or have a certain degree? Clearly some people are more learned when it comes to the Bible, and some people spend more time praying and meditating than others, but God speaks to all of us. Sometimes we just forget how to listen to him, because it seems so much easier to listen to other people.

Meredith, I'm so glad you chose to speak up here. Your experience—particularly your sense of being shut out, and the disdain and distrust you've felt for the church—is exactly what compels me to write about these issues. I have to admit, most of the time I'd  rather not. I'd rather write about happy, funny things, that don't make people uncomfortable. But when I hear about where you're at, and your longing to be a part of a church community in spite of your hurt, it gives me lots of hope.

Kelley, you make a very good point about the pruning God does. I wrote about that very image in a post last month, "Making room for new life in an old faith." But the way you word this does not quite line up with what I have come to learn about God: "I believe He wants to amputate the things that are displeasing to Him and harmful to us." Maybe this is the key difference between my approach to the pruning metaphor versus the amputation metaphor: I think of pruning as something God does in my *life.* He has pruned things in my life, like harmful relationships and habits. But I think of amputation as cutting off a very part of who and what I am and was created to be. And I don't believe he does that. Nothing about who we were created to be is "displeasing" to God. A good example might be a person's sexuality. It can certainly be expressed in negative, harmful ways, or those energies and desires can be directed in beautiful, affirming ways. If we've struggled with our sexuality in the past, God doesn't "amputate" it. He reworks and redeems it. 

Trina, finding hope and seeing beyond the "bunk"—what a great summary of what I ultimately set out to do in these posts! Thank you for recognizing that, and for letting me know that you do. :)

Elaine, this is a great connection—"the failure of those around us" and "the failure of our bodies." There are so many disappointing and distracting messages coming at us, whether they're coming from people's mouths or from within us. What's important is that we learn to differentiate what God is saying to us, and focus in on that.