Vulnerability Creates a Sharing Atmosphere

 

Vulnerable means to be susceptible to physical or emotional attack or harm. Many people are vulnerable due to their age, illness, disability or prior emotional or physical abuse. One might be vulnerable to being taken advantage of because of their mental capacity. Another might be vulnerable to serious illness because of another pre-existing condition such as pneumonia due to COPD or neuropathy due to diabetes. A veteran may be vulnerable to the sounds of gunfire, a car backfiring or hearing fireworks due to PTSD. Most people do not like the feeling of being vulnerable. It causes anxiety and stress. Most everyone has something about them that makes them feel vulnerable and most do their best to hide these things from others. 

Often times the things that make us vulnerable are things built up in our own minds. Things like past mistakes that still haunt us or fears about the future. We tend to not forgive ourselves for past mistakes and we tend to worry about things that may come to pass but usually don't. 

I want to talk about the powerful effect that can come from opening up and being vulnerable to others. We are often fearful to let people see us up close and personal. We don't want to allow them to see our heart. To show our inner most feelings, emotions, fears, or even dreams. We may not like it but it's one of the bravest things we can do. Remember, it's not brave if we're not scared. When we make ourselves vulnerable and open up our truest emotions, dreams and fears, we create an atmosphere for others to connect and relate to what we are feeling and in turn open up to us or others. Support groups are great examples of this process. It can work for couples in marriage and for friendships. If you think about it, often times even couples who have been married many years still hide some of their deepest thoughts, fears and dreams from one another. It shouldn't be so but we humans are that way. Feeling vulnerable is just too scary to open up even to those we love most. If one half of the couple would just open up and become vulnerable the other would most likely reciprocate. 

Is there someone you need to share a deep seeded emotion, fear, or dream with? Why not begin sharing today? We are not guaranteed tomorrow. Not ever are we guaranteed tomorrow. Life can change in a heartbeat of time. Don't let those you love not truly know who you are. 

Love Helps Those Who Cannot Help Themselves

 

I was scanning radio stations recently and caught an old country song by Paul Overstreet with the title of this blog post. I don't often listen to secular music but when the cd player is broke and the talk radio station won't come in any longer, you find something to break up the silence. I think this particular song is a good one and I hadn't heard it in many years. It got me thinking about a possible blog post. 

The title is such a true statement. Love is something that happens when a body reaches out to help another who is unable to help themselves in a particular moment of time. It may be as simple as giving a hand to help them up a flight of steps or as extensive as loaning or giving money during a crisis. Maybe it's giving a hug or holding during a time of fear or extreme sadness. 

All of these examples are biblical. We see time and again in the bible where we are to have compassion on the needy. 

1 John 3:17 - But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 

Deut. 15:11 - For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land. (I'd like to point out that this verse reminds us that we will always have poor and needy people. Try as we may, there will never be equality as some think they will force. Neither do any commandments in the bible give permission to the governmental system to take from some and decide to give to others. We as INDIVIDUALS are to decide how and when to disperse to others)

There is the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10. This is when the Lord is explaining "Love thy neighbour as thyself". 

These verses and the song referred to are very convicting. Empathy tugs at our heart strings and our emotions but compassion puts empathy into action. I've said this before, a clenched fist cannot give. It takes an open hand and an open heart to have compassion on someone in need and act. 

Romans 13:10 - Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. 

Let's remember to help those who cannot help themselves and show forth the love of Christ.