luna_woods

Thanks for sharing, I find myself at Home in the Catholic Church, I was raised in it,went to Catholic School and did not really plan on leaving that Faith when I first found The Way International.

I just really wanted to study the bible. I found a lot of people were Catholics before they got into The Way International,took the class and suddenly BAM(it was Us and Them in my head)

I find peace in my years later,not in church going but in remembering how I was raised as a Catholic. Life is Balanced...and whenever I can I like to walk into an EMPTY Catholic Church look at Jesus Christ on The Cross(that is a BIG (((HUGE))) thing

that I do and in reverance kneel and know He knows me,my heart .

I sometimes will just sit there for a while and then leave. Always with a smile on my face and in my heart. I am not religious

about it just Real.

I have been having trouble going to mass lately... ok, for almost a year now. I feel alone when I am at mass. But when I go into the church all alone, I feel warm and embraced. I wish I could puzzle this one out so that I can go to mass happily. I miss mass.

It is hard not to attribute every dark corner of my life to TWI. It is hard to realize that other things have happened in my life - happy and sad. It could be that I am going through yet another season of forgiveness... and as much as they are uncomfortable, if I just get on with the forgiving, I can get on with everything else faster, too.

How cool! My sister-in-law is an organic farmer, and my husband and I hope to join or start our own intentional community one day. It is so awesome to know that there are many out there who are interested in sustainability. Kudos to your project - and good luck!

I know exactly how you feel, Luna! I was raised in twi as well, and I also love the Catholic church I attend with my husband's family for the same reasons. Our daughter was baptized in the Catholic church and it was beautiful. I love the ritual and the choice to simply sit and hear what is taught. And then leave. I am thinking about converting, but the idea of taking the classes to become confirmed reminds me too much to taking classes in the Way. I can't say I am over my hurt yet. I don't know when I will be, but at least I can sit in a church service and not break into tears anymore. I am so glad to see you here!

No lie - RCIA rocked my world. I told my priest about TWI - and he dealt with it well. He was supportive as much as he knew how to be. I'm here if you ever want to ask about my experience in RCIA.

I was born in '78. Legend has it that Mom and Dad met in the Corps and didn't like each other. Then they fell in love - and I came along. I grew up on Way albums - not tapes or CDs - and Rock of Ages. My dad led Twig.

The years right before and after the family left were really hard. It took 6 or 7 years for Mom and Dad to go to fellowship again on a regular basis - and then it was to hang out with ex-Wayfers and sing the same songs, say the same prayers. Deja vu. I couldn't hack it for long. I was big into Dale Sides for a few years. It's ten years later, and I am happily Catholic. I like the ritual, the quiet, the softness of my church in the morning light. Going through RCIA was hard; it brought up a lot of memories, and I felt vaguely guilty and like I was doing something wrong. My sister helped me through that. She is Methodist and leads the worship team at her church. Mom and Dad... well, they are still kind of loners, I think. I am, too, when it comes to worship. I found the term "love bombing" when I was doing research on TWI - and now I get why I like to be alone in church and why I go to a big place where talking to others and making friends isn't necessary. Someday I will become more a part of my church's community. For now, hearing the Bible without getting sick to my stomach is enough of a joy for me.

Overall, I am blessed. At this moment, I am so happy to be able to talk to you all - people who get it. People who get that TWI years gave us some joyful moments and a lot of pain, too. My husband has a hard time identifying with the stories I tell - and my friends get a little antsy when I bring up TWI. It's hard to feel isolated like that - like I did something wrong by being born into a Way family. My aunts and uncles were in TWI, too. About ten years ago, I was at a Dale Sides event, and someone called out my last name. He recognized me because I look like my dad's family. It was a fun moment. I miss that sense of community at times. For me, that is/was one of the hardest aspects of exiting TWI - the sense of loss of community and family.

I named my son Jamie. I sing "Love Child" to my daughter. When I am stressed, I sing "In the Garden". I have the fondest memories of women in long skirts and long hair. Picnics. Just writing this is bringing back the names of my childhood. The faces. The joy of family.

I am not sure what I am looking for here at GreaseSpot. Maybe I am not looking for anything. I am just glad to be here.