‘Love your enemies.’ - Christ
Our enemies are a given, for Christ. He doesn’t say, ‘if you have enemies, please love them!’ It’s not a case of, well, if you were a genuinely lovely person, you wouldn’t have ghastly things like ‘enemies’ - that’s just mean! Only horrible, hateful, bitter people have enemies! No indeed. But, if you are wondering who your enemies are, then try throwing yourself into the bonkers business of becoming more courageous, creative, free, and full. That will press some people’s buttons – and might reveal one or two beloved enemies! Not strangers in the dark, mind - or devils in the desert, no – but a few frightened folks who might struggle to see you grow a little in power, peace, and purpose. Yes, if you dare set foot on that narrow path of letting your light shine in those shady spheres of secretiveness, fearfulness, and shame, some people you know might gaslight your beginners-steps with a few beguiling, belittling, and passive-aggressive tricks, treats, and tell-tale torches (consciously or unconsciously). This might make you freeze – sabotage your hard-fought ground – and manipulate you into a more manageable size - small, scarred, and a little bit scared.
Thank goodness Christ didn’t preach ‘like your enemies’, or ‘go on holiday with your enemies’, or ‘stay married to your enemies’, or ‘feel sorry for your enemies’, or ‘go out for lunch with your enemies’, or ‘fear your enemies.’...
Only love your enemies. Phew!
For me, now, when I hear Christ preach ‘love your enemies’ I imagine a fierce and fiery sort of love burn from within. It's not warm and fuzzy. It’s stronger than death! And, of course, very little inside of me wants to contemplate my enemies in a genuinely compassionate gaze. (Only very rarely). But with a bit of reflection and remembering, I think there are some fairly decent reasons to love them daily:
I love my enemies because they hold a mirror to the fears I must face
I love my enemies because they are my shadows chasing me to greater heights, lights, and fullness of life
I love my enemies because they stoke my furnace with a dull dark coal
I love my enemies because they help me integrate my wildfire energy
I love my enemies because it annoys them (probably not very enlightened - but there it is!)
I love my enemies because they constantly demand more growth, strength, and work
I love my enemies because my story would be terribly boring without them
I love my enemies because they have made me the man I am today, and the man I am becoming
I love my enemies because they reveal aspects of myself which I try and deny
I love my enemies because I am trying to love myself
I love my enemies because they force me to seek the silent sanctuary within
I love my enemies because they lead me to deep breaths, short prayers, and beginners’ yoga
I love my enemies because they offend my ego
I love my enemies because there is truth to their lies
I love my enemies because they point me to the grace
I love my enemies because it defies meritocracy
I love my enemies because it is liberating
I love my enemies because it is healing
I love my enemies because I could have been them
I love my enemies because I am them
I love my enemies
I am you
You are me
We are them
And they are us
Amen