You Can See Me: Vulnerability, Emotional Attraction, and God's Self-Revelation
Have you wondered about what allows someone to be vulnerable? What circumstances or factors allows someone to disclose deep parts of their soul to another person? The religious/spiritual answer would be that it just happens. As I've considered my own acts of vulnerability and God's self-revelation to humanity (aka God as Jesus of Nazareth), I think a helpful explanation can be found in psychology and relationship analysis. Before I dive into the science-y stuff, let me reflect aloud on my own experiences. After the death of my maternal grandmother in fifth grade, I pretty much became an emotional shut-in. I didn't allow myself to develop deep friendships. I didn't allow myself to open up to people emotionally (at least authentically). I didn't like sharing about my experiences and struggles. During the summer after my first year in college--where I experienced what an intimate relationship with God is and what authentic community looks and feels like--God provide