Motivation Monday - "LIVE LIKE JESUS” Summer Series: Vulnerability
VULNERABILITY
4th in a Summer Series - LIVE “LIKE” Jesus
“In a world where people’s mental health is increasingly fragile, it seems counter-cultural to suggest that vulnerability unlocks the greatest potential for satisfying relationships. But observing how Jesus modeled what it is like to be truly vulnerable, shows that with a strong and grounded identity in the Father, being vulnerable is possible.”
{Vulnerability: capable of being physically or emotionally wounded; open to attack or damage, from Latin “vulnerare” to wound}
One of values we hold most dearly at Gather Women is that we choose to be genuine, rather than cloaked in fear and self-preservation.
Being genuine means taking risks.
It means being open to trusting others even if they might betray you.
In an intense period of my life, I experienced betrayal three times - by friends, by a church leader, and by colleagues. At the time, it didn’t feel like I would recover from the gut punches of loss and sadness. It took me months and even years to process what had happened. Today I am older and wiser, yet I would not want to stop taking risks to be vulnerable with others, or stop being open to diving deeper in existing relationships and creating possibilities for new ones. I would rather risk than live in fear of being hurt. I would rather risk than closing myself up to others.
Being human means taking risks.
Being human means being vulnerable.
In a world where people’s mental health is increasingly fragile, it seems counter-cultural to suggest that vulnerability unlocks the greatest potential for satisfying relationships. But observing how Jesus modeled what it is like to be truly vulnerable, shows that with a strong and grounded identity in the Father, being vulnerable is possible.
In John 13:21-30 we read:
“Then Jesus was moved deeply in his spirit. Looking at his disciples, he announced, “I tell you the truth—one of you is about to betray me.” Eyeing each other, his disciples puzzled over which one of them could do such a thing. The disciple that Jesus dearly loved was at the right of him at the table and was leaning his head on Jesus. Peter gestured to this disciple to ask Jesus who it was he was referring to. Then the dearly loved disciple leaned into Jesus’ chest and whispered, “Master, who is it?” “The one I give this piece of bread to after I’ve dipped it in the bowl,” Jesus replied. Then he dipped the piece of bread into the bowl and handed it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. And when Judas ate the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus looked at Judas and said, “What you are planning to do, go do it now.” None of those around the table realized what was happening. Some thought that Judas, their trusted treasurer, was being told to go buy what was needed for the Passover celebration, or perhaps to go give something to the poor. So Judas left quickly and went out into the dark night to betray Jesus.”
Here are some questions to reflect on as you consider the underlying tension in this story:
How does Jesus identify the person who will betray Him?
What does this action make you notice about Jesus?
How do you relate to people who have hurt you in the past?
Jesus allowed Himself to be in a vulnerable situation. He shared a meal with His closest earthly companions, fully knowing that one of them was going to betray Him. Try to imagine what the human side of Jesus struggled with as He shared a meal with Judas. Jesus opened Himself up to an awful lot of human heartache when he knew someone he called his friend would turn his back on him, and still invited him to the table.
Isn’t that our fear when we open ourselves to deeper relationships? That somehow, in revealing more of ourselves and trusting others we’ll end up in a situation with someone who can’t be trusted?
Reflect back on the story of the first man and woman in the garden when vulnerability vanished from what could have been a perfect world. That is the case with Adam and Eve when they realized they were naked before the Lord, and were ashamed by it. But God’s intention was never for them to hide, and it is not his intention for you.
Is it possible to use wisdom and discernment when dealing with others, but also remain open? You don’t have to throw open your life to everyone you meet, giving every person you encounter a chance to crush you. On the other hand, you don’t have to look at everyone with a negative, suspicious eye, always expecting to be taken advantage of by others.
Every conversation you have is an invitation to risk revealing the real you.
Jesus felt the risk was worth it when he was with his imperfect perfectly human friends.
Jesus felt the risk of being vulnerable was worth it,
when he risked everything to come and live in your world.
When you protect yourself from the potential of getting hurt by a friend, you also protect yourself from experiencing the joys of vulnerable friendships. Fear and self-preservation keeps your world very small.
Begin by being vulnerable with your heavenly Father. Allow him to open your heart to grow your vulnerability with others, one conversation and one relationship at a time. Watch how Jesus journeyed with his disciples, his friends, refusing to be offended, because He believed in who they were becoming.
Transformation takes place in relationships. Relationships take vulnerability. How can you open yourself up to new possibilities and take some risks in your relationships this week? Friendship matters. SIsterhood matters.
I believe in you.
God bless.
Cathie