"it can be natural to wander from God, only to return to know God by choice.

Not everyone has to wander in order to travel back to God, but for those of us who have found ourselves growing distant from the trappings of religion and the traditions of our upbringing, there is hope. When the decision to follow God is ours rather than a decision made for us by our church or parents, it’s a relationship that’s stronger than ever before."

That's the ending lines to a great thought provoking article I just read on relevantmagazine.com

Without getting too personal or too in-depth I want to just say others have most definitely questioned my "wandering" as of late. Or rather assumed I was wandering away. What I found in reading the article, which I also so deeply felt in my heart, is, that a departure from church services for a couple of weeks, or a month or even a couple of months didn't mean I did/was deserting my faith or upbringing. As it hurt me to be asked these questions by close friends/family members I felt and feel that more than theirs, it was my path and my life. Their decisions weren't and aren't mine. I say this with a sincere heart and a soft tone. I'm saying this quietly with no aggression and simply want to convey what I'm going through. Let me know Him by choice, let me experience Him by choice not by your persistence or your motivations in your own personal spiritual life.
I know beyond anything else that Jesus Christ is Lord, He is my personal Savior and I am in no way pushing Him out of my life.
Just because I may be surrounded by co-workers who are non christians or associating with non Christians doesn't mean I'm abandoning Him or that relationship.
This post is not meant to hurt anyone's feelings, I am just laying it out there. Please, once again, note that I am saying this is the nicest manner, and I know people's concern comes from their loving me and watching out for me. You know you who are, and you know that I love and appreciate you in my life. :)

So please do take a minute to read the article, I thought the way things were worded were so right on.