Soul snack 8/213 ... Intentional Intimacy

Intimacy has as its unique marker a deep, personal and inexpressible joy. The self-revelation that can only promote dangerous vulnerability is its cement. Either seeing into another's soul or being seen into is as much an opportunity for pain as it is pleasure. Intimacy can be a two-edged sword.

Love is the conqueror to the threat in intimacy.

Love recognises no vulnerability.

Love reflects on no shortcomings.

Intimacy will always reveal the bad in a person, as intimacy uncovers the soul. Love will never hold it!

Intimacy without love is to know another's 'bad' and to hold it.

Intimacy with love is to know another's 'bad' and then release it.

God does the latter!

  In your love you kept me
       from the pit of destruction;
       you have put all my sins
       behind your back.  Isaiah 38:17b