As I was sitting and reading a book called “Abba’s Child” by Brennan Manning a line from a song was stuck in my head. I put the book down and heard “I was made, I was made for intimacy” from a Hessler song. So I began to wonder, as I often do, what does this mean?
A friend of mine has talked a lot about intimacy with the Lord and I’ve realized that it’s a tough subject to wrap my brain around. So often in our world, intimacy is physical closeness between 2 people; many times involving sex or a dating relationship. Hence why it has been difficult to look at my relationship with God thru the lens of intimacy; it’s not like I want to have sex with Him. Then I realized that in these last 10 months, I have had more intimate moments than I have had in the last 10 years of dating relationships (man I’m getting old). When a friend comes up to you and asks you to pray for him, they state nothing specific and as you begin to pray, words and thoughts come to you that you know you NEVER could have thought up on your own. Then you feel a weight lifted off of your friend and he prays for you. You realize that even without knowing what you were going to pray for you spoke directly to each other’s hearts and souls. You look at each other with water eyes and embrace. That’s intimacy.
When you begin to talk with a family you’ve never met and for a reason unbeknownst to them they begin to share their secrets and past and deepest pains with you. And then you pray for them. That’s intimacy.
When you go to use the internet and your favorite sport is on TV. That’s intimacy.
When you are feeling down and you feel a wave of love and self worth rush over you. Then someone sits down just to say hello. That’s intimacy.
When someone plans a birthday lunch and brings you flowers. That’s intimacy.
And I’m sure that I could think of 100 more times I felt intimacy over these last 10 months. SO, I go back to my question – what is intimacy and how can you have it with the Lord? Ya know, oddly enough, I’m having a heck of a time putting it to words. Though I know that it takes time and it’s not always natural. I know it doesn’t involve selfish gain, pride, narcissism or arrogance. I may not say it eloquently at the moment but what I’ve gathers is that intimacy (especially with the Lord) is a sharing of the heart; for the pure joy of sharing. For taking the times to speak to each other and listen to each other. To know without a doubt what brings joy and what brings pain. To willingly be there and provide undivided attention in the conversation, even when you are the one listening, and most importantly to do it all from a place of love.
