Church

I love the Bridge Service at my church. It is a contemporary worship service. We sing and pray together as a community. The Bridge brings me peace. I come closest to God and spiritual fulfillment when I am there. That said, today was the first time in two years I have attended that service. While there is nothing I love more than my church, no one has wounded me so badly as my church has. I loved it there. For years I was one of the most active members. I came to church at least twice a week, and I wrote for the church newsletter. I was confirmed as a memeber with about a half dozen of my closest friends. Church was my passion and my life. For a long time, I even considered a career as a youth leader in my future. I learned quickly, however, that nothing lasts forever. The church released the director of children's ministries. Then we lost three youth leaders in a row as well as four pastors. Within less than a year, the people I used to know stopped coming. I lost my church community. It is rare for me to even speak to those girls anymore. Going to the Bridge is a mixed bag for me. I come back and a few people remember and greet me warmly, but most just ignore me. So much can change in a year; it is almost more than I can bear.