Does anyone really know you -- your hearts desire, thoughts, problems, yearnings? Do you really know your special friends as much as you would like to?
We can never know another person unless he or she practices the gentle art of self-disclosure. And that openness rarely occurs unless we create a non-threatening environment and build bridges of trust and vulnerability.
To "really know" a person means we intuitively explore what may be there, what could be said, and what may possibly be disclosed.
To get to know your friend -- you may have to name and articulate what the other person will then be able to recognize as true, and then claim as their own.
In charismatic circles this is often called sharing a "word of knowledge" that God gives you or calling the person out on what the Holy Spirit has revealed to you.
In psychological and therapy sessions this could be known as confrontation, intervention, or playing the devil's advocate to see if it brings recognition, admission, or denial.
The point is: this kind of openness that makes room for deep friendships begins with us. It begins with the process of allowing ourselves to be known by others.
"Words satisfy the mind as much as fruit does the stomach, good talk is as gratifying as a good harvest. Words kill, words give life; they're either poison or fruit -- you choose" (Proverbs 18:20-21 Message).
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