I have power within me. I climb to the tops of the rocks over the ocean to see into the cave. Two round eyes open and stare into the darkness. I can feel my energy building inside me. I see it is a dragon. I brace myself to jump but I crouch down instead. I am afraid. These dragons are so powerful. I see them as worldly systems over me. I decide to keep climbing. I have this sensation that something is growing inside of me. Something as powerful as the dragons. I don’t know what it is but I know that it is something the world will want to take from me. I know it is something I must protect. I climb higher. The dragons are soaring through the sky and screeching. Calling to each other. I thought my purpose was to claim one of them, but now it’s changing. As I climb I realize that it is not a dragon I seek, but something within myself. I am breaking and breaking and it’s so painful and it hurts and I’m so confused and so scared and it’s pressing on me and I can’t breathe. I must breakaway from this if I am to survive. I must get myself free using all of my strength. I stretch and push and use all my energy and suddenly something is cracking. A light is shining through. I am covered in a sticky clear substance. I keep pushing. The earth shakes and something gives way and I am opening my eyes and I see so clearly what was so hard to see just moments before: I am not looking for a dragon. I AM the dragon. Reborn in flames of grace, I feel my fire inside. God says that I am ready. I step into the fear and into Kristen and I fly.

