Emily was never the outgoing type; it had always been difficult for her to make friends. It was the first day of school and she had already began her year with her usual reputation as an awkward outcast.
Matt had been her neighbor for as long as she could remember. Their families had become closer over the past year and Emily had hoped that it would be easier to befriend him. She had spent hours the night before writing a note about how great her summer was and asking him about his. She sat in the cafeteria anxiously waiting for him to sit down.
This would be the moment their friendship would begin she thought as she glanced up and noticed that all of his friends were already sitting in their usual places three tables away. His friends were all popular so if she became Matt’s friend, maybe that would open the door to birthday invitations and sleepovers with the other girls.
Matt walked around the corner and sat down. Now is the time, she thought as she stood and walked slowly over to his table. Emily could feel her cheeks getting red as she approached their table and sheepishly handed him her note. He looked confused but he took it; she hurried back to her table without looking back.
A few minutes later a piece of paper dropped in front of her. She turned around to see Matt walking back to his table. Her heart was pounding with excitement as she opened the note. Looking down, her heart began to hurt. He had responded with one word. “Basketball” She turned to see his friends all laughing about what had transpired. Her excitement quickly faded into overwhelming embarrassment. A knot began to form in her throat as she stood and hurried to the restroom.
If this is what being outgoing feels like, she would never try it again. Emily wiped her face and stepped out of the bathroom and into the rest of her year.
In many ways, we live our lives in fear of how others may react. It takes us forever to build up the courage to take a leap and when we finally do take it, we live in fear of falling. What would a fearless kind of faith look like? In this situation would Emily approach Matt and explain to him just how insulting he had been, would she inform him of the error in his ways? Better yet, what if she stood up, walked over to their table, sat down!? What if she held her head high and declared goodness over her situation?
We often take the cowardly way out. If we try and fail, we avoid the situation all together. If we try and succeed, we spend every waking moment trying to make sure we don’t lose our success. Having faith doesn’t work like that. The beauty of knowing Christ fully, is understanding that your team contains the winning component. There is no failure in Jesus, maybe it’s time we start living that way!
I am living in true faith that God will provide the funding necessary for my trip! Thank you to all of my fearless supporters! Love you all!
