A Dare

Tonight, I realize my summer is stretching out before me. Empty.
The three people I would spend time with are all
busy.
Two are working, one nearly boarding a train at this moment.
Gone, for the rest of the summer.
While I sit at home. 

I was just about to have a small pity party, where I would feel miserable, lonely, etc. and complain inside of my head,
when I saw a dare waving right in front of my eyes.

It was like I raised my head, and God was challenging me.

All those times I've said that I want to learn to spend time with him like a best friend,
but haven't,
how I've prayed to fall in love with his word,
but haven't really tried all that much to read it and soak it in with my whole heart,
when I've recognized my fear of stepping out of my comfort zone,
but haven't had the initiative to do anything about it,
when I don't want to speak out,
make new friends,
open up,
go out,
talk, stretch, change,

...and surrender.

It's like he's taunting me,
showing me a mountain
that I can choose to climb.
He says it'll be tough and incredibly difficult.
I'll cry tears and get scars maybe. 
It'll be risk.

But also an adventure,

where I can grow.


And he'll hold my hand and help me up along the way.


It's like the dare he's dangled in front of me all my life:
choose the easy way where I stay inside of my shell
or
the hard way.
The painful way. The way with suffering.
But the one that will bring me the most
satisfaction
and
him the glory.