Q: What percentage of an iceberg is typically seen above the water?
A: 10% (to
20%)
That’s right! The greater part of the iceberg is hidden beneath the ocean water.
The iceberg is a brilliant illustration for couples to understand the importance of
intimacy in our relationships. When I say “intimacy”, what do you think of? The
majority of people think “sex”.
The iceberg illustration helps us understand how the
different types of intimacy fit into a marriage relationship.
Sexual Intimacy, like that 10% of the iceberg that is visible above the water is
probably considered the most obvious form of intimacy.
Emotional, Intellectual, and Spiritual Intimacy, are like
the 90% of the iceberg that is
hidden and less visible. Though these types of intimacy seem to be “below the
water”, they are integral to a marriage. Just as the larger mass of the iceberg
determines the direction the iceberg flows because of the ocean currents, these 3
types of intimacy provide direction and stability to the marriage relationship.
