Intended for Intimacy

On my most recent post, The Great Adventure, a reader commented: “Marriage provides constant opportunity for emotional risk-taking.” His words provide the perfect segue for this new post on intimacy.

Now each reader most likely has his or her own definition of and associations with that term, so for the purpose of this blog post I am using the term to refer to close familiarity or relationship; closeness. That’s intimacy in the broadest terms which can encompass the more specific aspects of emotional, spiritual and physical intimacy.

I believe the blog comment introduces this topic perfectly because emotional risk-taking is necessary for intimacy. Deep down, we all crave close connections with others (including God and our spouse) yet we fear it at the same time. Continue reading

The Great Adventure

Steven Curtis Chapman’s contemporary Christian classic, The Great Adventure, inspires my adventurous heart — which affirms to me that curiosity, exploration and risk-taking are part of our Creator’s plan for us. Consider these lyrics:

Started out this morning
In the usual way
Chasing thoughts inside my head
Of all I had to do today
Another time around the circle
Try to make it better than the last

I opened up the Bible
And I read about me
Said I’d been a prisoner
And God’s grace had set me free Continue reading

Made for Adventure

The adage “Dance like no one is watching” is well-known. I’ve seen it on posters, plaques, pillows, coffee mugs, trivets and more.

It’s usually accompanied by the additional suggestions of “Love like you’ll never be hurt, sing like no one is listening, and live like it’s heaven on earth.” Sometimes you’ll also find “Work like you don’t need the money.”

I suspect the reason for this maxim’s popularity and ubiquity is that it resonates with the adventurous spirit within us. Yet — perhaps more often than not — though we want to follow our adventurous spirit, we have apprehension for one reason or another. We fear what others will think or want to avoid pain. Continue reading