“Intimacy and Vulnerability”
Most of the wisdom I have (perhaps all of it) comes from other people. One of the guys in my 12-step group who usually criticizes himself for talking too much and rambling gives me a lot of wisdom. And no, he does not talk too much or ramble.
We were talking about three topics this morning, two of which were intimacy and vulnerability. Intimacy is not simply—or even mainly—about sex. Of course sexual intimacy is . . . well . . ., very intimate, but there are lots of other kinds of intimacy.
My friend, the non-rambler, gave me two wonderful sentences that connected and summed up these two topics nicely.
“Intimacy is showing yourself to someone.
Vulnerability is the cost and the risk of showing yourself to someone.”
It’s quite true! Being willing to show your true self is a risky business. Will the other person reject the real you? Will they talk to others about your self-revelation? Intimacy is far more scary than roller coasters, and I’m terrified of roller coasters.
We have a God who knows us inside and out, and who also welcomes us just as we are, with all our weaknesses.
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
(Hebrews 4:12–16 The Holy Bible, English Standard Version)
Perhaps if we realized that, we might be a little more likely to risk intimacy with our fellow human beings.
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