Last week I mused a bit about what it means to love an enemy if that enemy is a condition one has or state one is in, using depression as an example.

This week I'm going to consider how Jesus' admonition to love our enemies, those enemies being people, is connected to His love for us and the desire that we know that Love more fully.

You may not have someone in your life who you experience as being directly against you, but I'll bet you have people in your life that seem like trouble to you and it has nothing to do with you being tired or peopled out.  There is just something about them that rubs you the wrong way every time and getting to know them or opening your heart to them seems like an invitation to walk into a torture chamber. They may seem arrogant, self-obsessed, short-sighted, ignorant, etc. They just don't seem good for us at all and self-respect means converting them or staying as far away from them as possible.

But, there's a problem.  Deep down we know we are made to love, to be for, to long for the best for all people, including the above.  And to settle for something less than that is short-circuiting our own growth into the lovers we were created to be, bringing light into darkness, hope into places of despair, etc.

So, what does it mean to love one's enemy if that "enemy" is a person?  From Jesus' admonition in Matthew 5 about loving one's enemy, it seems that first of all one needs to accept that person as just a deserving of love and blessing as oneself.  "He [God] causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." (Matt. 5:45)

With that change of attitude, we might consider extending our love to include trying to understand the person, rather than judge them.  You know what happens when people try to understand us, rather than ask questions with an agenda of their own in mind.  Our walls come down and we open up, often giving the other something to connect with rather than react to.

Sometimes this results in the beginning of rich relationship.  It also could be that the person is has so much pain and is so committed to hide their vulnerable selves that someone loving them well only results in more anger and animosity.  Either way, if the goal has not been to change the other person but simply to be the "son" or "daughter" of our Father in heaven that we are, we are ok, and can be grateful about relationship gained and sad about relationship lost, without needing anything else to change.

Now of course in moving this direction we become aware of how unloving and self-centered we actually are.  That is painful, but good to know, if it's true.  Leads to humility, brokenness, and greater dependence on the One who loves us perfectly.

So, who's the lucky person that you might apply this to?  If you have ever longed (prayed?) to love more the way God does, then you are provided lots of chances to learn!  Accept those chances, just for today.  Tomorrow you can decide for that day.

"God, at times I am blessed with a glimpse of what seems unlovable about me and I become grateful for your love for me as I am, along with your commitment to transform me into a person who is free to love You and others well.  Today I open myself to the people in my world, whoever they are, knowing that I need them and they may need me.  And, as always, thanks for being persistent!  Amen."