Joi, this is so true, and exactly what I need right now: "Inevitably, honestly, I open to something that speaks so completely to my hungry spirit that I am thrilled with the awareness of how God is always there when I take time to purposefully seek him." Thank you.

Jennifer, that sounds wonderful, but it seems to be exactly what I'm NOT able to do when I get myself to this state! Nothing in me feels centered, and the people I'm closest to are most likely rubbing me the wrong way (my perception probably more than their actions). I can always try harder, though. It's a discipline, like finding things to be thankful for when you're going through a rough time.

Violet, this rings SO true "Detours are frequent, intriguing, and attractive." I also love your descriptions of your own trial and error attempts to get closer to God. I can completely relate—"a wonderful reminder to me that I am not alone in my imperfection." Thank you.

Angela, that's a great reminder—so direct and simple, and clearly something I believe God responds to. Thanks for sharing your story, and for your gentle encouragement.

Scott, sounds exciting! I'll look forward to reading it.

Sam, you're right. Until I admitted out loud to Jason that I wasn't feeling close to God, I was just going along through the motions of the days, avoiding the truth of how distant I was feeling. At the time, it seems like the easier thing to do—to ignore it. To admit it would be to add another thing to your to-do list. But of course, ignoring it brings more struggle in the long run.

Trina, that's a great point. Even writing those points in bold made it all seem more clear and simple. I think I'll print them out!

Dave, you give me plenty to think about, as always. I often find I need to just sit with your ideas for a bit and mull them over, which I'm always very happy to do. (This is a good thing, btw!) :)

Ken, yes, God seems to have that leading thing down (and everything else too, for that matter!). I can definitely say that this is true of me: "...we don’t REALLY trust His goodness, His desire for our growth...." It took me a long time to trust his love for me; now it's time to move on to the next "trust challenge."

Elaine, thanks for the grace in your comment, and for the wisdom. Ebbs and flows are OK, as long as they aren't too extreme.