Regarding dating: guys man up, women keep your chin up

So in the course of my day today, I had the privilege of hearing a friend read an incredibly moving letter his girlfriend had wrote him. Now, since this is not their blog, both of their identities will remain private, and most of the content of the letter will too, but one portion of the letter really struck me.
The portion that did the work on me was when this young lady revealed how much his words, affection, and pure pursuit of her took her back, caught her off guard, she didn't know what to make of it. She said for years she has wondered if there was something wrong with her because no guys ever showed interest in her. The totally crazy thing is this girl is a 'catch' in every way: she's smart, generous, incredibly compassionate, independent, emotionally healthy, financially sound, modest, and get this, she's really, really pretty too!
This blog is about the 'inside culture' of the Christian dating community; for those who may read it and would not describe themselves part of that community, go easy on us, no community is perfect. But for those who are part of that community, you may have, like me, noticed some strange non-events. Guys who seem healthy and viable matches for numerous young women bide their time in solitude, unsure if they should risk rejection and take a shot while many young women--smart, funny, sociable, deep, intelligent, young women--wait and wonder if there's something wrong with them, at times 'settling' for a lower caliber of guy who happens to have the guts to ask them out.
Now there are certainly good reasons for those apparently healthy, viable guys to remain hesitant in asking a young lady out, maybe there's more going on than what's apparent: you're going through some kinds of healing yourself, working through an addiction: those are good reasons to be hesitant. Many times, though, I hear that guys are just 'waiting for God to speak'.
Listen, consider this a cue that God is speaking. Often times what starts a couple dating is not a hand writing on a wall or the mystical alignment of some planets, rather it's the 'splinter in your mind', you keep thinking about her; there's a room full of people but she's the one you keep noticing; or maybe when you're in a group of people she's the one you find yourself talking to over and over. What I'm saying is that--if she's got good character, is responsible, funny, and you're attracted to her--dude, get on with it. Ask her out, the worse she can say is 'no', and trust me, you'll get over it, maybe she will too. A girl said 'no' to me once and then some time later ended up marrying me. Man up.
And ladies, women, let me encourage you, there's nothing wrong with you. Who knows the reasons why Providence keeps us waiting--maybe to build patience, maybe so we can spend more time in other pursuits, maybe none of those but simply because men today lack confidence, most of our fathers didn't build that into us. Whatever the reason, I for one think it's generally good that you are waiting to be asked out. I realize this is 2008 and not 1908 and that's not a very egalitarian statement. Let me clarify my last statement, there's nothing at all wrong with a women asking a guy out, but I've done many weddings, counseled both married and engaged couples and I've noted one thing: most women (if not all) want to be pursued, and if you're hoping to have a guy who will pursue you IN marriage (which most women do), you'll have to see if he'll pursue you before marriage. If you want that, it's best to wait.
Also, if it is on your heart to be in a relationship, I'd encourage you to pray. Someone once encouraged me to do that, so I did. For 3 years before I met my Chantelle, I prayed to the Higher Power of my personal choice (Jesus) every night before bed for my unknown wife--that God would bring our footsteps together, and get me ready to meet her. If you desire a relationship, I don't know if anything can lead your footsteps together quicker than persistent prayer.
If that doesn't work, it probably wouldn't hurt to forward the site for this blog to him.