Intimacy Issues?

I spoke at a Small Group leadership training last night at a church ( mahalo Shelter Cove! ) Monica and I love encouraging connection, in marriages...and in the church. As we meet couples, we find many men struggle with intimacy, both with their spouses, and other men. Our culture discourages intimacy, not only through the media ( tv, radio, magazines ), but our escalating social media culture.

Larry Crabb, in his book, Connecting, talks about the joy of the original community - the Trinity.

"Imagine the sheer delight of enjoying perfect relationships with two others with no fear of things turning sour, a community of three cut from the same fabric, yet unmistakably distinct. Imagine three who, without a hint of competitiveness, are absolutely thrilled with the uniqueness of the other two, who will stop at nothing to give each other the opportunity to display their special glory. Imagine a community without even the shadow of evil, with nothing but perfect goodness, where every member can be fully himself without fear of promoting rivalry or releasing something something bad."

Genesis 1:26 begins, "Let us make man in our image, reflecting our nature". Busted. Men long for connection, both in marriage and in relationships with other men. We were created out of community, it's in our DNA. Our families and culture has clouded that, but the truth is in the Word, as always.

Monica and I  like to say marriage is God's Plan A to conform us to the imager of Christ. Guys, we can learn so much from our wives. They excel at connecting with other women. Watch , listen and learn.
Find one other man you can be totally honest with, and nurture that relationship.

Deep down we know this. I believe we all sense "echoes of Eden" in ourselves...a time when were were connected to God intimately, before the fall. The band Switchfoot said it well, " We were meant to live for so much more...have we lost ourselves?" We can't go back to the garden, but moving toward deeper connection is moving toward God.