The Practice of Enemy-Loving

A friend posed the question of what loving one's enemies meant in the context of human rights violations, or abuses of any kind.


I struggle with this issue incredibly. In fact, I do in the more painful parts of my life have a few enemies that I continue to try and figure out how to deal with.


But, at this moment, this is where I am:


Remember the bumper sticker that says, "When Jesus said, 'Love your enemies,' I think he probably meant don't kill them." (It's a good song well capitalized on by the Quakers--the FCNL has come out with some of the best peace paraphernalia lately anyway)


but I digress. I got to thinking:


I cannot say 'I love you' and kill you.
I cannot say 'I love you' and seek vengeance against you.
I cannot say 'I love you' and seek to destroy your life.
I cannot say 'I love you' and seek dominance over you.


However,
I can say 'I love you' and report you.
I can say 'I love you' and ask you to be accountable for your actions.
I can say 'I love you' and that I will not be silent.
I can say 'I love you' and seek your transformation, and mine, past the injury into a more hopeful future--even if I cannot in my current hurt imagine what that future may be.