Fear and intimacy.

Starting a new book this week by Henri Nouwen; the opening chapters discuss the link between fear and our lack of intimacy with God. What I have gathered thus far is that Nouwen believes that because we live in culture of 'what if's', and we exist in a perpetual fear of things that might happen, we are conditioned by that fear and it extends into nearly every aspect of our lives -- personal relationships, business dealings, and our relationship with Jesus. I understand this, in fact, I agree wholeheartedly. But what are we afraid of? Being discovered? Uncovered? Exposed? Are we, am I afraid of being completely known? Why do I try to hide myself from God -- like He doesn't know all my business anyway! And yet...I run and hide and try to make garments of fig leaves to cover myself in His presence. I tell the kids I work with that He can handle the honesty; do I believe that? Maybe the challenge today is to be who you are, and let Him do what He will. Let that love, the perfect love that drives out fear, rearrange who I am.