Feb. 21, 2011 Monday: True Intimacy

True Intimacy

Human relationships easily become possessive. Our hearts so
much desire to be loved that we are inclined to cling to the
person who offers us love, affection, friendship, care, or
support. Once we have seen or felt a hint of love, we want
more of it. That explains why lovers so often bicker with
each other. Lovers' quarrels are quarrels between people who
want more of each other than they are able or willing to
give.

It is very hard for love not to become possessive because
our hearts look for perfect love and no human being is
capable of that. Only God can offer perfect love. Therefore,
the art of loving includes the art of giving one another
space. When we invade one another's space and do not allow
the other to be his or her own free person, we cause great
suffering in our relationships. But when we give another
space to move and share our gifts, true intimacy becomes
possible.

-Henry Nouwen