my pledge - dating is not just to find a mate

So, my boss, Mark, walked into my office today and handed me an envelope with the book How to Get a Date Worth Keeping by Dr. Henry Cloud. Mark didn't give this to me because I haven't dated anyone in over a year - it's because I'm the only single person on staff and Zondervan sent this book to churches all over the country to give to their "singles ministry coordinator". And seeing as how Church of the Good Shepherd does not have one of these - the book came to me.

Anyway - I just finished reading Chapter 4 entitled: Dating is not about Marriage. I've actually already learned a lot in it. But what Dr. Cloud has been writing has been making a lot of sense. How many times do we, as followers of Christ, subject ourselves to these ridiculous ideas of "just waiting - my husband/wife will find me"? Honestly. Do we expect that we can just sit and do nothing and just expect God to bring him/her to our frontdoor? Why are we not taking an active role in it? Who am I to expect God to wait on me?

So, at the end of this chapter there is a pledge. It says:

I will date as an end in and of itself. I will no longer see dating as a place only to find a mate, but as a place to learn, grow, experience, and serve other people. It is my new laboratory of learning, growth, and experience.

I just "took" this pledge. I'm sick of just sitting around. We'll see what comes of it.

But I encourage you to check out this book. Dr. Cloud is a great writer and he really knows how to make sense of it all. Tell me what you think.

peace all,
~Jenna