I’m thinking of a word. Can you guess what it is?
Synonyms are: affinity, communion, confidence, familiarity, understanding
Definition: closeness between people

And the word is…? INTIMACY

A misunderstood word in our culture, we usually use it as a polite way to say that two people are having sex. We’ll say, “they’re having an intimate relationship.”

But is that really what intimacy is? You may be intimate with someone you’re having sex with. But you may not. When the two go hand-in-hand the experience is transcendent, like a little taste of heaven on earth. But if you’re having sex with someone you’re not truly intimate with, it can be the loneliest feeling in the world.

For intimacy, the experience of close connection with another, is a rare gift in our human experience. That may be because there seem to be so many things working against it.

Today’s Psalm, Psalm 32, is a Psalm about intimacy with God. That’s something that we all long for. Because it’s the life we were created for. We were created to be intimate with God. So, why do we seem to be hardwired to resist it?

One of the conventional definitions of sin is “separation from God.” Sin is whatever is present in our lives that blocks our intimacy with God.

In the first reading for today, we read about a powerful metaphor for the relationship God intended for us. It’s the metaphor of standing naked before God.

How do you feel about standing naked before another person? Little kids don’t seem to have a problem with it. In fact, I can remember when my kids were little, in the summertime, in particular, I had trouble getting them to keep their clothes on. But, most of us, as we get older, aren’t really into being naked in front of each other. Yeah, there are nudists, and there are exhibitionists, and strippers, but those people are considered somewhat on the fringe of society. It’s not normal to parade around naked. That’s why you’re all sitting here in your pews wearing clothes this morning. (Can you even get your head around a nudist church? You might think such a concept would really pack the pews, but, in truth, I suspect it would be very difficult to get people to attend such a church. As observers, perhaps, but not as participants.)

Most of us reserve our nakedness for a select few people in our lives. They would be the people we can trust to love and accept us even though we might not look like the airbrushed centerfolds of a Playboy magazine.

In the story of Creation, Adam and Eve experienced an intimate relationship with God. They stood before God naked and didn’t think a thing of it. But then, when they made the decision to separate themselves from God, immediately, what was the first thing they did? They made some clothes so they could hide their nakedness. (It was the original “cover-up” story!)

The Psalmist reminds us of how important it is to stand naked before God. That is, to be who really are before God -- without pretenses, without fear, without shame. And the only way we can do that is by trusting that God loves us with all our imperfections.

Today’s Psalm is the perfect way to begin the Lenten season together because it’s about a journey from fear to trust. It tells the story of one who had separated himself from God. He was afraid and hid himself from God. He stubbornly held his feelings in and shut himself off until it felt like there was going to be nothing left of him and he couldn’t stand it anymore.

Then, he finally broke down and came to God in honesty. He quit pretending to be someone he wasn’t. He confessed to God who he really was. Someone who had made a royal mess of his life. Someone who desperately needed God.

The Psalmist opened himself up to be in an honest relationship with God. And that’s all it took. Because God was there all along. It was only his stubborn refusal to come to God that had caused the separation.

God wasn’t looking for reasons to punish him. God was waiting patiently for him to open himself up to receive forgiveness. That’s who God is.

And so, the Psalmist expressed joy. “Many are the torments of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds those who trust in the Lord. Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart.”

Peterson translates it like this in the Message: “Celebrate God, Sing together – everyone! All you honest hearts, raise the roof!”

As we spend this Lenten season focusing on prayer, today’s lessons give us a great place to start.

From our Old Testament readings we’re reminded of the importance about being honest with yourself about who you are. Now, that can be scary. It means acknowledging your strengths, your weaknesses, your frailty and your fears. But until you can do that you can’t have true intimacy with God because the first step toward true intimacy with God is acknowledging that you’re not God.

And so, you have to be able go deep and ask yourself the hardest question of all. What are you afraid of? It was something Jesus needed to do. That’s why he went into the wilderness. So he could be honest about who he was and acknowledge his deepest fears.

It takes time to examine ourselves like that. And it means being still. Letting go of our busy-ness and all the distractions that preoccupy our lives and keep us from facing the truth about ourselves. In many ways, it means going against everything that makes us feel safe in this life. Surrendering all that we’ve constructed to create a life for ourselves that is as far from the life God intended for us as it could possibly be.

Can we bear to be still? Can we bear to be honest about who we are? Can we bear to relinquish control? Can we bear to get out of our heads and listen to God with our hearts? Can we bear to stand naked before God? Can we bear to let go of the comfort and safety we have constructed for ourselves in order to experience intimacy with God?

Those are the questions of Lent. As we seek answers to those questions for our lives, it’s essential that we ever keep before us the truth of God’s grace. Hiding the truth about ourselves only becomes necessary when we’re afraid it will be held against us. And the greater truth for us is that no matter what the truth about ourselves is, God’s love for us supersedes all our fears and failures and, even our faithlessness.

As you dare to return to an intimate relationship with God this Lent, remember that the Lord is gracious and merciful and abounding in steadfast love. It’s time to stop running and rest in the arms of the one who loves you more than you can ever begin to imagine.

Pastor Nancy Kraft
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
Charlotte, NC