Comments on: Leaving the Garden: Jana’s Journey

By: Joe R

Joe R — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 13:36:16 +0000

Thank you for directing me to your other stories. (I had no idea that you were a blogger extraodinaire) That gives me a great deal of insight into what I will likely be experiencing over the next several years.

By: xJane

xJane — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 16:21:41 +0000

Your posts about how difficult it was for you when John left give me a glimpse into how my family felt when I left. (Although I was not their husband, I was their child & their “responsibility”.) But I still cannot fathom what causes a person to believe something will happen to someone else’s soul. I understand that something does & I’ve accepted that, but some things still baffle me. Thank you for sharing: here and on your blog

By: pilgrimgirl

pilgrimgirl — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 05:38:04 +0000

Isaac and Kevin: thank you for your kind comments. JoeR: Part of my story that isn't told in this post is about my marriage. My spouse became disaffected with the church before I did. And it was hell for me. I've written on my blog about the difficulties this caused in our marriage. Some of the relevant posts: And I Hit Him... Worth dying for... And no other... Let me just say that it will take time and compassion (for both of you). Having been through both roles in this journey now, I can say that it's much harder to be the spouse of a disaffected member (particularly as a woman, because her salvation is tied to yours) than it is to leave the church yourself--although that's a hard road in many ways, too.

By: Joe R

Joe R — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 02:29:37 +0000

As one who is having a similar experience, I wonder how your family (particularly your spouse) is taking this journey of yours. I have done my best to open and honest with my wife regarding my new found feelings/understandings about life and faith. She thinks I’m apostate, confused, and struggling, but I couldnt feel more clear thinking, positive, and appreciative of life than I am now.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 10:37:27 +0000

I would like to second Isaac’s thanks!

Sharing is awe-some.

By: Isaac

Isaac — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 06:53:08 +0000

Thanks for sharing this.

Because of it’s personal nature I do not have much to add besides to let you know it was read.

One thing did stick out, though, that I wanted to linger on for a moment. You said that on your faith journey you lost your certainty (among other things, but I want to focus on the certainty). I am someone who has spent a lit forming certainties about life.

One of the conclusions I’ve come to over the last couple of months is that one of the things which makes life so wonderful IS the uncertainty. It IS the journey of discovery and rediscovery. I think a lot of people fear the unknown or being uncertain (so I guess your comment about fear is appropriate), but I think that if you embrace that fact that life IS unknown, you can enjoy the exploration that much more.

Or… something like that.

Thanks for sharing.