Regardless of the current, or perhaps, the long-lasting (and often mistaken as contemporary due to our innate desire to feel special, albeit whether the cause be good or bad) malpractice of sex without true intimacy (in terms of a certain emotional, mental, and/or spiritual quality), human coitus remains the final stepping stone of “inter-human” (the details and differences of this term in comparison with “interpersonal” deserves further inquiry in a separate piece of writing) relationship.
In the most “traditional” form of intercourse, a man and a woman intermingle … woah, intermingle is a real word, huh- I mean, Microsoft Word is actually underlining the word “woah” with the formidable red zig-zag line, and even the word “zig-zag”, but not the word “intermingle… - I digress. Where was I.
Oh. Intermingle.
Yes, when people have sex, make love, procreate, fuck, “get to know each other”, they strip down to their birthday suits and come to physical (and often mental, emotional, spiritual for some, etc) union with his or her partner.
In many ways, including physical, mental, figurative, symbolic, yadayada, sex is the epitome of human union, which I would here define as love, or “getting to know” someone. Perhaps “intimacy” is also a word worthy of this intent.
“Getting to know someone” goes through various stages. I.e., there are levels of intimacy which can be defined by the intensity and comprehensiveness of the exposure one reveals to the other party.
When the first man and woman of the bible were created, they had full union with God and each other. They were naked and felt no shame. With the Original Sin and God’s judgment of the sin followed, the shame of the sin and the illicit knowledge split man from God and each other (Adam and Eve). A barrier was placed between the Divine Creator and the partner of life given by Him.
Ever since then, regardless of whether or not you buy into the whole Garden of Eden story, the progression of human intimacy necessitate the removal of such barrier. The figurative undressing of each other, and fully embracing the revelation of each other’s flaws, and beauty, of their increasingly naked beings. And when such nakedness become complete, the final union, the ultimate intimacy is achieved, much like how people engage in the final intercourse after the removal of their clothes.
Our naked beings, even to… or especially to ourselves, may come off quite ugly in some ways. Often it is more alluring and seductive to keep some parts of us hidden as partial nudity is more enticing than full blown out nakedness that may appear disgusting and vulgar. Still, lovers find perfection in the imperfect naked bodies of their partners. Likewise, as humans become increasingly intimate with each other, and discover the imperfection in their history, behavior, and character, they learn to cope and tolerate them, or worry for them, but nonetheless love the person for who they are.
That, if I dare to say, is called falling in Love.
