Drop

As if dating weren’t hard enough…

Violet Gates is finally ready to get back out there after her previous marriage ended in horrific fashion. The one good thing that came out of it is Violet’s son, Toby. Hesitant to leave him with a babysitter, Violet takes some measure of comfort in her home security cameras.

What follows is maybe the worst first date in the history of the world. It’s not the guy. No, he’s great. Violet and Henry actually have terrific chemistry. It’s everything else going on around them. For one, they have a super annoying waiter. And then there’s that whole “I kidnapped your son” anonymous message thing. The mysterious sender promises to kill Toby if Violet doesn’t obey their orders.

This is the worst nightmare for anyone seeking a match. One of the scariest things about today’s tech is how easily any maniac can uncover and exploit your personal information. As the hostile messages continue, Violet’s phone basically becomes a weapon pointed at her head. 

Of course, not everyone you meet online has some sinister agenda. But there's often enough bad apples to spoil the whole bunch. Violet’s predicament leads her to distrust everyone in the restaurant, including her date. But whoever took Violet for an easy mark was gravely mistaken. 

Having survived years of domestic abuse, Violet is one tough cookie. The tormentor failed to notice that Violet makes a living counseling people on how to deal with trauma. They underestimated her ability to stay calm under pressure. Violet uses the very tech that threatens her to turn the tables.

It's not God's will for us to be paralyzed by painful experiences. Fear of the unknown shouldn’t keep us glued to our couches. Violet wishes she had taken action earlier in life before things got bad. Stepping into that restaurant, Violet stared down more than one monster: her dislike of heights, the awkward reality of dating in the smartphone age, and her fear of being hurt again.

Whoever told her it would be easy was wrong. It took bravery and determination not to run out of there screaming. But confronting everything that scared her may have opened the door to something beautiful down the road. If only we could see the amazing futures that await us when we step outside our comfort zones. Supernatural courage is available for those who put their trust in God.