Vulnerability. That’s not a word that has much value placed on it. Especially not today. And it’s a scary word, isn’t it? But there’s something about it that can change a situation around. And it can change the entire dynamics of an encounter with someone else.
Many times we are trying to put a good face on ourselves and our situations. It’s even a part of our culture. If you pass a friend or neighbor on the street—out in public—we ask the other person how they’re doing. And inevitably they always say, “Good.” Then there’s the compulsory question back asking how we’re doing. And not to be outdone, we respond by saying, “Good” as well. And part of that’s understandable. It’s just a part of the culture. It’s a traditional greeting. And we’re just being cordial to one another in that way. Meeting an acquaintance when we’re out and about is usually not meant to be group therapy. In this context, we don’t generally ask how someone is doing and then sit and listen as they spill their guts to us. Quite honestly, that would probably be overwhelming to us. We can end up asking how someone is doing and then end up being sorry we asked—thinking to ourselves, “Hey look, I was just saying, “Hi.”
That being said, I think this tendency to be cordial, and greeting people in this manner, can lead us to keep our walls up all the time around others. And then we think we have to be that way all the time. Now we’re left with a group of people who don’t really share anything meaningful anymore. We’re afraid to be vulnerable. Some of this can come down to pride, or maybe just fear.
The thing about vulnerability is that it can open doors. Being vulnerable to someone else can help them to open up to us. Sometimes we have to be willing to open the door first. Maybe some time when we do meet someone on the street we can just make that extra effort. We can dig a little deeper and ask how they’re doing in a little more meaningful way. We can give them a little bit of information on what’s going on in our lives. Then they might be willing to do the same. And we wouldn’t even have to do it right then and there. We could just say, “We should get together for coffee some time.” Now we have a more open forum and the context to really talk to each other.
When people see us willing to express some vulnerability, I think they actually find it refreshing. And I think they also respect you more for it. And there’s a comradery that’s built in the process as well. These are some of the things that allow us to connect. We get to understand each other a little better. And that’s really what empathy is—when we can see and feel another person’s perspective.
Jesus was really the model for us in this manner. One amazing thing was that He was willing to make Himself vulnerable to people. He did this by taking time for them. And He also showed this by being willing to be rejected.
AV Mark 10:44-45: “And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” The way God’s Kingdom works is much different than this world. Our position in His Kingdom is directly proportional to our humility. We need to be willing to serve in order to learn true greatness. And Jesus was our perfect example in this. He showed the ultimate vulnerability when He laid down His life for us on the cross.
Rely on fresh fruits, vegetables, high fiber foods, nuts, seeds and viagra online prescription fish. If one open packet of the http://cute-n-tiny.com/cute-animals/monkeys-eating-ice-cream/ order levitra generic drug is encountered, make sure the chemist is informed so it can be worth considering remedy or other treatment. During sexual activity, if you become dizzy or nauseated, or have pain, numbness, or tingling that begins in the lower back and upper soft cialis online hip area of the body-areas that are engaged in a sexual act. You should take certain precautions before consuming the tablets for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. india levitra http://cute-n-tiny.com/cute-animals/cheetah-cub/ AV Galatians 6:2: “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” Our love for others is displayed when we are willing to walk alongside them through difficult times. When we let them know that we are there for them, we are fulfilling Christ’s command to be servant of all. We are making ourselves not only vulnerable, but also available.
AV Philippians 2:3: “[Let] nothing [be done] through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” Having an attitude of putting other’s needs first really changes your mindset. Getting our minds off ourselves, and our wants and needs, is an act of humility. The idea isn’t for us to gain recognition but to be of benefit to other people. This also has the added effect of brightening up your own life. I think we find that often we reap a greater reward in serving than we would otherwise.
AV Colossians 3:23: “And whatsoever ye do, do [it] heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;” The ultimate idea of all this is to have a mindset of serving the Lord. We serve others because we want to serve the Lord. And His glory is the ultimate glory. The great thing is, living like this really frees us to stop worrying about ourselves. It gets our mind on others, and most importantly, it keeps our mind on the Lord.
AV Mark 10:44-45: “And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
AV Galatians 6:2: “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”
AV Philippians 2:3: “[Let] nothing [be done] through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”
AV Colossians 3:23: “And whatsoever ye do, do [it] heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;”