Taking the Leap

One thing that I have REALLY been missing this summer is just the simple things that I take for granted back home. For instance, being able to swim in water without consuming gallons of salt water at a time. Don't get me wrong--I absolutely LOVE the ocean and the beach, and am going to miss it like crazy when I get back home, but it would be nice to have a lake conveniently located out my front door=) Also, campfires. Campfires are a must during the summer months, and there aren't many places down here to do that.
However I was sharing this with a friend, and he told me about a place just north of North Myrtle where they had gone just a few days before and spent an evening back in the woods by a freshwater river and roasting s'mores over a fire!! So a bunch of us packed up our stuff and headed out to spend the evening enjoying these simple things of life.
When we got there, I realized that there was a bridge near by, that wasn't very busy and was only about 15 feet above the water....being from the north woods this is a no brainer. We HAD to go bridge jumping. We checked out the depth of the water, and then headed up to the middle of the bridge. Of course the boys had to go first--they couldnt let a girl beat them to it--and so after they jumped and swam back to the shore, all eight of us girls stood up on the ledge, held hands, and counted to three before taking the freefalling step! 15 feet doesn't look very high from the shore, but let me tell you--when you are up there 15 feet might as well be 100 because its still scary!! But once you take that initial jump the rest is one of the most exhilirating and freeing feelings!
I know the whole "leap of faith" may seem a little cliche, but last night, as I pushed off the wooden bridge with my feet, I felt so out of my element--totally out of my comfort zone. I let the pull of gravity draw me to the waiting water (free of salt!!!), felt the butterflies in my stomach take flight, and felt the fresh air hit my lungs as I prepared to hold my breath! Since being down in North Myrtle, I have found that when I allow God to stretch and lead me in ways I never imagined, it is just as exciting and rewarding as my plunge into the lake. When I trust Him, surrender everything--every aspect of my life, it is such a freeing feeling! To know that I am trusting in Him who will never leave me or forsake me, who knows the number of hairs on my head, and knew me before I was born, is so much more comforting than relying on my own self. How many times have I failed before, trying to figure things out on my own! I am a worrier. I worry about everything. No really, everything. But I am beginning to see that God wants us to give those worries to Him, to simply trust Him and His perfect will for my life, and take that leap of faith. To allow Him to pull me towards His path for me, feel the butterflies of wonder and excitement in my stomach, and enjoy the ride.