I had the privilege of joining a team of 13 other people on a mission trip over spring break in Nashville. We spent hours with children from Stonebrook two weekends ago and then spent a day at Carter Lawrence Elementary school. God did amazing things through each of those communities, but there is something special about spending days in a row with the people on the trip with me. Each trip I go on, I get closer to the people I spend every waking hour with for multiple days in a row.
These relationships don’t just grow from spending time with each other, but from people opening up and being vulnerable. This trip, people opened up about insecurities and struggles that most people don’t know. Those acts of courage created bonds within our team that will always be remembered and those relationships will carry on beyond the mission trip.
Something special happens when you are vulnerable with someone else.
- You admit that you are human.
- You show that you trust them.
Relationships are built from vulnerability.
My best friends are the guys that know everything about me. They are the ones I come back to Sewell in all of its glory and share my day and feelings with. They are the ones I stay up until 1am talking to. They know who I am and still love me. They are the ones who let me know them.
I’m sure that most of you have these people in your life. They are the people you go to when you are having a bad day and also the people you go to when you get great news. If you don’t have someone you are vulnerable with, I encourage you to find that person, or group of people.
It’s scary to share your feelings. Maybe you have shared your feelings with someone and it went South. They betrayed you and stomped on your heart. You aren’t alone, I’ve been there. There are people out there who care about you. There are people who will protect your heart. There are people who will treat you like family. When you find those people you trust, I encourage you to be vulnerable.
I have good friends from high school that I think back on and realize I didn’t really know. I have teammates now that I live with who I don’t really know. People in college, this is the perfect time to get to know the people around you. We live in a dorm or apartment full of people who are going through the same phase of life. I am still trying to really get to know people and I want other people to really know me. I don’t want to miss this opportunity. Let’s be vulnerable together.
Real relationships are built from vulnerability.
I appreciate you.
-JP