Following on from Richard\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s \u00e2\u20ac\u2122 thread, I haven\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t attended a traditional church in a committed way for the last 10 years and I have often asked myself what I miss from not going. My answer to this is the group experience , being part of a social network which I have struggled to find since leaving. I am aware that many people join social clubs and create social networks that can often give some of the same benefits but I suppose I long for some spiritual connection. Since that time I have been part of many starter things but have all failed for various reasons and I know that in some ways I have been the problem leaving me to do much soul searching and self-reflection.<\/p>\n
Hidden within the longing to be part of a group is that I have a need to belong. Belonging to me is a sense of \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcbeing known and knowing others\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 in an authentic way. I sensed this to some degree in the traditional church and especially with the vitality of meeting with people of difference especially the broken. I also felt that many in the church could not accept difference or be authentic and vulnerable – therefore I was unable to get to know them.<\/p>\n
My journey has taken me to a place of stepping out of the church framework that I have found difficult and painful provoking some fundamental and raw questions about faith, gospel, church, salvation, sin, love, grace etc. Part of me longs to go back to those days, but I know I can never return, but I know and long to be part of a community of people who want to explore humanity in a real and loving way. <\/p>\n
The closest I have got to this dream, has been in the Counselling and Psychotherapy community. It has given me a place to be me myself without judgement, a place to explore my flaws without condemnation and a place to learn to listen to others with empathy without the need to provide the answers or try and fix them.<\/p>\n
I suppose that old U2 song is still very relevant for me, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I still havn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t found what I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m looking for\u00e2\u20ac? but the journey has taught me so much and taken me into areas of my own pain that I would never have explored without this experience and I feel I am a better person because of it. But I still long to be part of an authentic community, I long to explore faith in humanity, and ultimately I still long to belong. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Following on from Richard\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s \u00e2\u20ac\u2122 thread, I haven\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t attended a traditional church in a committed way for the last 10 years and I have often asked myself what I miss from not going. My answer to this is the group … Continue reading