Arousing Love, a teen novel by M.H. Strom Page A

of the water and I
opened my eyes. I stood up, feeling dazed by what I’d seen. Joanna
was looking at me, and I suddenly realized I was free, there was no
more guilt or fear. I felt so light. Everything seemed to shine in
a new way.
    I looked at Joanna in amazement. “I feel
new.”
    We made our way back to shore.
    “You have a huge grin on your face.” She
laughed.
    “I’ve never felt like this before.”
    We sat on the beach and I described what I’d
seen while under the water.
    “That’s a vision from God, Zach.”
    “It’s amazing. I can’t believe this has
happened to me.”
    “It’s so exciting, you’re a Christian now!
There’s nothing standing in the way of our love anymore. I knew you
were the one for me.”
    I looked into her beautiful, blue eyes and
smiled, but something in me felt restrained, like I couldn’t think
of her that way anymore.
    “Joanna . . . the vision I saw, I think God wants me
to give up everything in my life and focus on doing his will.”
    Joanna studied my face.
    “I have to give up everything, my art,
surfing . . . . ”
    “That means me as well?” She said in a quiet
voice.
    “I’m not giving you up. We’ll still be
friends.”
    “Why?” Joanna’s eyes filled with tears and
she turned her face from me. “God didn’t tell you to give me up.
That’s your own idea. God wouldn’t tell you to give up the one you
love.” She stood up.
    “Joanna—” I tried to reach for her, but she
ran from me.
    She turned back. “This isn’t fair! I baptized
you, and now I’m being punished for it!” Then she ran, leaving me
there with an aching heart, yearning to go after her and comfort
her. I felt her pain like it was my own, and it broke my heart.
    But I have to do this. Not my will but
yours be done. I took a deep breath. This is so hard, God.
Help me to do your will.
    I wasn’t going to be a lukewarm Christian. It
was all or nothing.

    I went back to the shack and started pulling
down my posters and grabbing stuff off the shelves—I had to get rid
of everything.
    I looked at the portrait of Joanna on the
easel. Can I just keep this one thing to remember her by? But I knew I had to give it up. I looked it over one last time,
then stuffed it in the garbage bag.
    I’m giving up everything I used to be so I
can be what you want me to be.
    Deep within I was grieving, but I ignored it.
I tried not to think about Joanna, I felt so bad for her.
    Living for God is a lot harder than I
thought. It’s like a self-inflicted life of misery. But even as
I had that thought, I could feel God with me. I still felt new and
there was a deep excitement in me I’d never felt before. I just
wanted to please God with my life.
    There was a knock at the door and I went to
open it, half expecting it to be Joanna, but it was Josh.
    “Hey dude, just got off work.” He strolled
past me and flopped onto my bed. “I see you’re doing some
redecorating. Going for a minimalist look?” He saw the Bible next
to the bed and gave it a strange look.
    “Yeah.”
    “That girlfriend of yours, I’ve gotta say,
she’s pretty hot for a sixteen year old.”
    “We just broke up.” My voice sounded so
expressionless
    “Why?”
    “I don’t wanna talk about it.”
    “Okay. I could tell you’re depressed. To
immature, right? These young girls look hot but they’re not ready
for anything—”
    “No, it’s not like that. I had to give her
up . . . . ”
    “You’re not gettin’ all religious on me now,
are ya?”
    I smiled. “I guess you could say I found
God.”
    “Yeah? Where’s he been hiding?”
    “Come on man, I just had a major religious
experience, and God is real to me now, not just a distant idea,
he’s real and he’s with me.”
    “You’re too young for this, Zacho. Life’s too
good for this, man. There’s so much you’ll miss out on.”
    “No, it’s the other way ‘round. You’re just
wasting your life doing stuff for yourself instead of what you
could be doing