This programme, which includes clips from the film Last Chance Harvey, explores the concept of human vulnerability, looking at how this affects our relationships.
The programme invites discussion of the question 'If we refuse to be vulnerable will we ever develop any true relationships?' - and sets up any talk about love and relationships.
Show the first part of the programme - then freeze frame on the question "If we refuse to be vulnerable will we ever develop any true relationships?"
Invite people to share their answers with one another.
Invite feedback and discuss what our answers tell us about:
the reasons why we might not allow ourselves to be vulnerable
the dangers of becoming cold-hearted
the impact this can have on our relationships with those around us
If appropriate begin to introduce some of the different types of love as described by C.S. Lewis (affection, friendship, eros and caritas) - which Nick covers in the next section of the video and which you can read about below - and consider the different situations in our lives where these might be expressed.
Show the rest of the programme.
Deliver a short talk lifting off from the suggestion to look at biblical ideas of love, relationships and vulnerability. You could look at John 3:16 or Matthew 26:37-38 and think about the extent of God's love for his creation and Jesus' own willingness to be vulnerable for the sake of those he loved, perhaps illustrating these ideas with contemporary quotes about love, relationships, God and grace (N.B. these links into the large collection of relevant Bible references and contemporary quotes are free to anyone with a subscription to Tools for Talks - non-subscribers can obtain immediate access with a 1 year or 30 day subscription).
Background reading
Before using this programme you may find the following helpful (N.B. we cannot vouch for the accuracy of any content in wikipedia):
The Four Loves. C.S. Lewis discusses the different forms of love that can be experienced, as described in his The Four Loves
