to love at all is to be vulnerable

vulnerable: capable of being physically or emotionally wounded or hurt.
when i first read this, i thought of being vulernable as a bad thing. who would want to increase their chances of being physically or emotionally hurt? but i've been learning that to deepen any relationships at all, we have to be vulnerable. we have to be open. and it's scary-to put yourself out there, to share what's on your heart or your insecurities, knowing that theirs a chance you could get "physically or emotionally wounded or hurt". knowing that there is a chance you could not succeed, that you could put youself out on their and not be accepted or recieved. falling flat on your face. but, how will we ever grow deeper, become more intimate with others and even our creator without being vulnerable? this is a question i've been coming to for the past week...and the only answer i have: being vulnerable-allowing people to come into our lives, letting them see us for who we are...
so often we put up walls, becuase we dont want anyone coming to know who we truly are or how we truly feel. but what do we have to lose? i've come to realize i would rather someone not like me for who i am, then for someone to like me for who i'm not. it's a risk to be vulnerable, but it's so worth it.

"We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us." 1 Thessalonians 2:8

i love this verse. we weren't meant to keep to ourselves. we were meant to share our lives with others. and a part of that is being vulnerable, opening up to where people can see who we truly are.

“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe 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, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.”
-C.S. Lewis