NAKED

To see, To want

I must have been about twelve years old when I first heard the phrase "naked and not ashamed." It was during a gathering of young couples at our house, and that was the topic of discussion. As young as I was, I grasped the idea—well, to some extent. I understood that being naked meant baring it all to your lover. I understood it as a beautiful form of intimacy—emotional intimacy, and yes, physical intimacy too.

Since then, I’ve loved the concept of love. You mean I can be so secure with someone, that I can share everything without fear of judgment or rebuke? To truly be myself? My own person? I knew right then —I didn’t want to be part of anything mediocre.

Yet, alas, I dabbled in a few mediocre relationships and even friendships. Bóyà peer pressure ní, mi ò mọ¹. But they were necessary for character development. I learned a lot. Lol. Thank God the lessons weren’t too hard—no heartbreak, no breakfast. Still, àmọ́, káṣàmàdúpẹ́².

I once read in a newsletter that the Igbo translation of "I love you"—ahụrụm gị n’anya—means “I see you.” What a beautiful expression of love. And in my language, Yoruba, "I love you"—mo nífẹ̀ẹ́ ẹ̀—translates to “I want you” “I desire you.” I think love is a combination of both. To see, to want.

Love is seeing someone in their entirety and saying, “Yeah… I’ll have some of that.”

To love is to see a person wholly and to want them in their entirety. To bare yourself to another—to a stranger. To feel safe with them and to provide a safe space for them to bare themselves. To be vulnerable without fear—fear of judgment, fear of being taken advantage of, fear of being misunderstood. To trust them with your delicacies. Love is security.

Love is that person or place you can always go to. The one that has seen you at your highest and your lowest; in your Sunday best and your ugliest home wear. It’s the person or place where you’ve shared your wins and losses. It’s where you feel most comfortable. Love is home.

You think about this person or place, and your heart swells. Gladness radiates through your skin and makes you glow. Your face breaks into a smile. Love is joy.

Even when you’re upset with them, you can’t help but care for them. You want them to be comfortable at all costs. You always seek their highest good. Love is kind.

To love is to see and to want. To be naked and not be ashamed.

P.S. This isn’t just about romantic love; it’s about the love that exists between friends, amongst families, and most of all, between us and the Father.

Footnotes: ¹ Maybe it’s peer pressure; I don’t know. ² However, let’s be thankful.