I'm sad.

I just got done reading several blogs where people I know expound on their frustration with Christians and organized "religion."
Their writings make me sad. I want to encourage them to keep journeying with Christ, tell them that it's ok to question and be away for awhile. We all have to take babysteps and find the God that adores us.
Yet, everytime I type a post, I erase it - sounds too preachy. Maybe I am organized "religion." I have my questions too. There are days I find Christians reprehensible. And yet I am here, believing that you can't make a difference from the outside. Here I am, on the inside, trying to learn what grace is and show it to my kids, my church members, and my friends.
I know I'm blessed to be in this Church with people who strongly believe in the grace of God. The question remains - How do I encourage and support those who have "given up?" How do I support those who can't see that they have a valuable place at the table? How do I minister to my friends who aren't in a grace-friendly place?
At the very foundation of all this, I still believe that you have to be involved and contributing to really gain something from the faith journey. I want to entreat my friends to go to church, find friends, and make your own visions of what community looks like become a reality. And yet I know that this is much easier to say from here, than it is to do over there.
Maybe that's the real reason young adults come back to church when they have children. It's not really about the formation of the children as it is that you can see clearly who you have something in common with and making friends is infinitely easier.
I know the answer isn't easy, but maybe by asking the questions we can journey toward the answer together instead of alone.
Happy Sabbath ya'll!