Tracy, I love the "curious and goofy" combination, too. I was thinking more about why I feel so good with these people at my church, and a very big part of it is their willingness to not be perfect, or to even *pretend* they might be perfect. That's one way to think about being "goofy," don't you think? And it makes sense that we are comfortable around such people, because they create so much open space and freedom.

Chris, I'm glad to know someone else from our church can confirm this description of the people! I didn't pull it all out of my head, of course, but sometimes I wonder if my own particular experience is so colored by *my* story (how and why I ended up at the church), that it doesn't really reflect anyone else's experience. It's good to know it does!

Jon,  thanks so much for reading, and for letting me know that you're out there!