Love cannot be had apart from humbling yourself to the point of vulnerability. This is seen and exampled most aptly in Christ, who humbled Himself to the form of man and deigned to a death of utter humiliation in obedience to His Father's will. All versions of human love are but shadowy analogies of the great love shown for us in Christ.
In the case of a mother and her child, this vulnerability occurs most naturally at birth and rearing when the child is cared for because of his inability and the mother likewise reveals her vulnerability in the wringing of hands and the potentially explosive responses to tantrums and the like. Thus the son is made humble and vulnerable by his nature while the mother is rendered vulnerable by that same virtue.
Or think of lovers who, in the throes of intimacy and ecstasy, are stripped of all pretense and barrier, the utter nakedness exposing them to the deepest of humility and vulnerability, the very bedrock of love. Is it, then, any wonder that physical affection of this is the seal and consummation of the marriage covenant?
It is because of the necessity of humility and vulnerability to love that true friendship becomes such an unusual prospect, particularly in an age wrapped in self-esteem and arms-length closeness that favors strength to vulnerability and dignity to humiliation. But as friendship cannot be had without love and love cannot be had without a great measure of humbleness and vulnerability, it would be wise to reclaim these aspects of love so as to renew a vibrancy of friendship as well.
I can speak from a certain amount of personal experience in this arena, having found it to be true on multiple occasions that intimacy in friendship is in direct proportion to my willingness and commitment to humility and vulnerability. Because of this, confirmed by reason and Scripture, we should relish the opportunities draw closer in love and friendship. And praise be to God who has given us His love so that we may love!
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