"Marriage, friendships, small groups, congregations and organizations all go through cycles of community and sometimes divide or fragment in the midst of dissonance and transition" (Gareth Icenogle).
If we really desire a deepening, mature, healthy, relationship (in friendship, marriage, small group, or church community) sooner or later we will get close enough to see each other's dark sides, flaws, and weaknesses.
In sexual intimacy (and here I am using the term "sexual" in the broadest sense of the term that embraces not only sex in the bedroom but also nonromantic but close relationships between male and female) and spiritual intimacy we have to face periods of conflict and differentiation. Its not just marriages that face this challenge.
Opposite-sex friendships will inevitably face this challenge; yes, same-sex friendships face this challenge--any interpersonal relationship or community that evolves towards intimacy is going to face the option of maturing towards the levels of deeper relational and spiritual maturity.
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