Woman and Man

A woman and a man are in a bedroom together.

The woman drapes herself over some pillows on the bed. Her eyes are half closed, looking toward the man. Her head is tilted back, her lips parted. Her arm lies across the pillows, reaching out toward the man. Her other arm lies on her chest, her fingers brushing over her breast. Her back is slightly arched and her legs separated as the foot of one leg rests against the knee of the other.

The man stands at the window. His eyes are wide open, side glancing out toward the street. His head is lowered, his lips pressed together. His arm bars the window while the other hangs by his side. His back is straight and his footing sure.

What does this image display? Why are the man and the woman both appealing in their own ways?

The woman relies on the man’s protection. She waits for him to come to her. She knows he will come when he perceives that she is safe. She leaves herself vulnerable on the bed, her neck and torso exposed. Her fingers direct him to the part of her that nurtures. Her open legs beckon the seed-bearer into her garden. She is in a welcoming position of surrender and she is completely alluring.

The man exhibits self control. He knows the woman is completely available to him at this moment, but he first patrols the area, making sure no danger lurks around. He faces the woman, but keeps an eye on the world. He is alert and prepared to battle whoever poses as a threat to the woman whom he holds as his greatest treasure. He will ease his mind and fully enter into her embrace only when he is certain that all is secure. He displays confidence and patience and he is utterly appealing.

As twisted as our gender-confused world is at times, I find it fascinating that we can still find so many signs of what women and men innately find attractive. All you have to do to test this out is imagine the man stretched out on the bed and the woman standing guard at the window. Ridiculous!

Women are called to surrender and nurture. We think of these as weak, martyrish qualities. But in truth, it takes a strong woman to give herself completely, with total trust, time and again. A woman who remains protective of herself inadvertently belittles the man, which leads him to either abandon or dominate her.

Men are called to protect and maintain self control. We think of these as brutish, stoic qualities. Yet it takes a determined man to patiently await the proper time for taking what is offered to him. A man who remains ruled by his passions instills fear in the woman, which causes her to close herself off to him.

Our culture continues to define and redefine what it means to be a woman and a man. I believe though that we will never completely turn from those qualities to which we are innately called.