Walking away from God doesn’t burn the bridge. He kept the road open behind you.

Leaving usually comes with a story about permanence, that the door closed behind you and the way back was destroyed by the leaving itself. Distance can be created from one side only, and the line insists the route stayed open the whole time you were gone. That is worth hearing if shame has been telling you otherwise.

If you have been away, you do not need to arrive with an explanation prepared. Start where you are, in plain words. The gap does not have to be justified before the conversation can resume.