Bodie Sanders - February 6, 2022
The Way of Vulnerability
The Way of Vulnerability Webster defines vulnerability as… easily hurt or harmed physically, mentally, or emotionally “The definition of vulnerability is uncertainty, risk, and emotional exposure. But vulnerability is not weakness; it's our most accurate measure of courage. Brene Brown "Vulnerability is Exposure to meaningful risk" Andy Crouch Obstacles to vulnerability Fear The narrative of fear is "IF" statements... "If you share that, then they will leave" "If you act this way, they will never understand" "If you share your faith journey, you will be outcast" “By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.” 1 John 4:17-18 ESV 2. Shame The narrative of shame is "YOU ARE” statements… “You are wrong” “You are bad” “You are broken beyond repair” “The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves. When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees. Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.”” Genesis 3:6-10 NLT 3. Pride The narrative of pride is "I AM" statements... "I am fine, I don't need anyone else" "I am not nearly as messed up as they are" "I am a leader and so I can't show weakness" Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it safe up in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket- safe, dark, motionless, airless- it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, unpenetrable, irredeemable. The alternative to tragedy, is damnation. The only place outside Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers and perturbations of love is Hell." C.S. Lewis