Last week we explored self-awareness. We discovered that in order to be a part of healthy friendships we need to be self-aware of the issues in our lives. This week we examine the other foundational principle that undergird healthy friendships, vulnerability.
We live in a world where vulnerability, especially among men, is thought to be a weakness. Social media has made it difficult to be vulnerable because as we look at the profiles of our “friends” we see they seem to have life by the tail. So why would I admit I experience issues when it seems like my other friends don’t? Vulnerability takes courage. We don’t want to admit that we are addicted to certain things, our marriages face difficulties and our kids are struggling. It is much easier to keep our “masks” on and pretend that everything is honky dory.
However, even Jesus admitted vulnerability to his closest friends the night he prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. He asked Peter, James and John to stay away and pray with Him as He struggled to complete His mission by going to the Cross.
While it may not be wise to be vulnerable to everyone, true friendships are built on self-awareness and vulnerability. The goal for every man is to have healthy friendship which will weather the storms of life and experience community where we can sharpen each other to become the men that God has created us to be.