Intimacy allows us to be deeply known. And certainly this enriches the sexual encounter. At the same time, we must add expressions of goodness and beauty for sex to move toward its highest potential.
Perhaps due to the rampant sexual objectification and abuse witnessed in society – expressions devoid of intimacy – we’ve placed a greater emphasis on sex being intimate.
In fact, for many, being intimate is synonymous with having sex.
However, I believe God has more for us.
Without taking anything away from our efforts to make our expressions more intimate, God’s love can be reflected along the paths of goodness and beauty in addition to the path of truth.
Truth – Intimate Knowing
The path of truth is the path of knowing and is the most closely aligned with our understanding of intimacy. On this path we get to fully know and be known – an intimate knowing.
Here we bring curiosity and wonder into our sexual expressions – anything that allows us to know each other deeper.
Goodness – Creative Action
The path of goodness is the path of action, and particularly creative action. Even beyond baby making (though this is certainly awesome in its own right!), we engage our erotic imagination as we actively seek to bring more life into our soul and relationship.
Here we cultivate a certain playfulness and desire for variety – seeking to reflect the creative goodness of God.
Beauty – Joy Experienced
The path of beauty is the path of deep feelings and experiences. And like the joy of watching a sunset or listening to good music, beauty is enjoyed at a gut level. It is not something to be burden with heady explanations. Beauty is simply joy experienced.
Here we seek to bask in and drink deeply of erotic pleasures, for their own sake, as an expression of beauty. We stand (or maybe lie) in awe of the rich delights God has allowed us to experience.
By all means, continue to pursue deeper intimacy in sex. But also remember there is more to sex than intimacy.
To receive all that God has for us as sexual beings we must also add to our intimacy expressions of creative goodness and beauty.
Editor’s Note: Adapted thoughts from Enlightened Sexuality: Exploring the Implications of Sacred Sexuality
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