"If I cannot see you, Lord; then surely, Lord, you cannot see me..."

I love these words to one of my favorite songs of all time ("Romans" by Jennifer Knapp).


So, last time I blogged was not only over a year ago, but I was also dealing with a similar circumstance. It's like there's some kind of switch that goes off and suddenly I'm hearing the same word everywhere. The word for this week?


Vulnerable.


I've heard this word over the course of a couple of weeks on TV, Radio and from the people that I happen to encounter in my everyday life.


What does it mean to be vulnerable?
Why should I be?
Who cares if I am?


Merriam-Webster defines vulnerable as 1) capable of being physically or emotionally wounded, and 2) open to attack or damage.


If that's what it means to be vulnerable, then why in the world would I choose to be?


In the game of bridge, the term vulnerable takes on a different meaning. According to Merriam-Webster, to be vulnerable in contract bridge makes you: liable to increased penalties, but entitled to increased bonuses after winning a game.
I know almost nothing about bridge (that's a card game, right?), but I can certainly understand the value of a gamble that pays off. But what if it doesn't?


In Luke 18: 15-17, people were bringing even their infants to Jesus and the disciples rebuked them for it. Jesus called them back, saying: "Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all."
Instead of agreeing that His work was much too important, He exhorted everyone who was listening to have the approach of a child.


And who is more vulnerable in this world than a baby?
Helpless, unable to defend themselves, not much to lose...


To be vulnerable before God is truly to take off our own blinders to our condition and see ourselves for how we truly are: helpless, without a defense, nothing to lose.


And Jesus says that this is the only way to enter into the kingdom of God. That's a very good reason for such a gamble.
Except it isn't really a gamble at all. Just before the statement above, Jesus says in verse 16: "Permit the children to come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these."


Belongs. Already.


So, if I'm promised everything, and I have nothing to lose...I would say that the payoff far exceeds the risk, wouldn't you?