Faith,
The other day my 7 year old grandson who is learning to read asked me what the word welcome meant. I asked him what he thought and he said "I think it means to come in." He didn't even need a dictionary. So WELCOME. I appreciated your story and experience. I've been a poster here for a few months and have yet to share deeply. Trust takes time and you might use your sixth sense to test the waters. If I wanted everyone to think the same way I would go back to the KH. The folks here challenge and affirm my thoughts and perceptions. If someone here forgets their manners I can gently point that out to them. In my opinion some people are still dealing with quite a bit of justifiable residual anger and pain. It doesn't take much to push their buttons. If you examine the dynamics of a relationship there will almost always be a conflict after the honeymoon phase to air one's differences. If both parties can weather the conflict the relationship can go on to higher levels.
In response to the thread of God speaking to people....I believe that when I accepted Christ and invited Him into my heart He became a part of me. Therefore, my experience has been that if I listen to my inner self I am in actuality listening to Christ and consequentially hearing him. The voice I hear has very kind, wise words as someone else previously posted. God speaks to me every day when I'm in the garden smelling the soil, planting tiny seeds that grow into edible vegetables and fragrant flowers, when I'm outdoors absorbing the universe and nature and hearing birds sing and the rooster crow at 5 am, interacting with people, hearing children laugh and play, wiping away their tears after a hurt......
" He walks with me. He talks with me. He tells me I am is own." Unknown Author from a Christendom Hymn.
And again this is MY chosen perception of life and it works for me.
God Bless.