Some things never change. Things like playing the game Truth or Dare if you're a high school or college student. I played it, and so did my children. And kids from now on will probably play it. It's one of those timeless games, maybe even approaching Monopoly status in its longevity and appeal. I've often wondered if perhaps part of the lure of Truth or Dare is the potential danger involved if one chooses the dare challenge without knowing what that dare may be.
One particular game of Truth or Dare I participated in when I was in college is forever etched in my brain. I was with a group of friends, and we were out on a Friday night at a park on Missionary Ridge. I opted for the dare, and my challenge was to spray paint some graffiti on one of the overpasses that connected two parts of the ridge across one of the major interstates in Chattanooga. I allowed two of the guys in the group to hold my legs and dangle me over the edge of the bridge while I painted the concrete beneath me ... upside down over six lanes of interstate with the traffic speeding by beneath me. Definitely not one of the smarter things I've done in my life, and now that I'm an adult, I can't believe I willingly put myself in that kind of danger.
You'd think I would have learned some lessons along the way when it comes to choosing between truth or dare. You'd think I would have learned that the danger in going with the dare option could be so great it could destroy me. You'd think I would automatically choose to know the truth, follow the truth, live the truth. And yet, more often than I'd like to admit, I choose the dare, knowingly putting myself into dangerous situations.
I can't help but wonder how God feels about my choices at times ... I think He must shake His head, His eyes filling with tears, as I wander down a different path than He desires. And I also can't help but wonder why His patience with me seems to know no boundaries, no matter where I go or what I do, He always waits for me to return, hat in hand ... broken, humbled, on my knees.
My prayer? That when I'm tempted to let someone dangle me over speeding traffic ... when I'm tempted to hang over the interstate, paint can in hand ... I'll think twice and choose the truth over the dare.
1 comment:
first of all simply canNOT believe you did that. wow! what a dare! i oftentimes feel this way. i've learned alot about god thru all of my kiddos, but esp with q. special needs just has its own package. the highs are REALLY HIGH and the lows are really low. but when i'm frustrated to the nth degree, when i'm at my wits end, it does always occur to me that this must be how god feels. is he saying are you deaf too? can you hear me? but just like i love my q-baby endlessly, i always fall back on that. that he loves me that way too. he may not always like the things i do. he may become incredibly frustrated that i botched something up again, but he gives me another day to make better choices. let's hope he keeps it up for a while! ;)
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