Loving Your “Enemies”
It goes without saying that people are divided now more than possible ever before. People get angry over politics, culture, and sports, but wouldn’t you think that most people could respond to an act of kindness from with whom they disagreed with gratitude?
Not so fast…
Meet Virginia Heffernan. The Los Angeles Times columnist wrote about her Trump-loving neighbors shoveling her snow and the dilemma that it caused for her.
Heffernan writes:
The Trumpites next door to our pandemic getaway, who seem as devoted to the ex-president as you can get without being Q fans, just plowed our driveway without being asked and did a great job.
How am I going to resist demands for unity in the face of this act of aggressive niceness?
Of course, on some level, I realize I owe them thanks — and, man, it really looks like the guy back-dragged the driveway like a pro — but how much thanks?
She actually goes on to compare Trump supporters to Hezbollah – y’know, a comparison sorta similar to the reason Lucasfilm fired Gina Carano – but Heffernan so far has kept her job.
Beyond wondering why a Los Angeles Times columnist needs her driveway snowplowed – she must live somewhere up north, huh? – what the actual heck?
It snowed. Her neighbors not only got rid of the snow on her driveway, but they also did a professional-quality job of it. It seems like a “thank you” and maybe a plate of cookies is the least that Heffernan could do. Instead, she frets over a moral dilemma and gets column inches out of it.
If a Bernie Sanders supporter performed an act of kindness for me, I’d be forever grateful. But let’s not make this strictly about politics: if a Georgia Tech fan helped me out in my time of need, I’d be happy. If somebody who hated Star Wars or James Bond did me a favor, I wouldn’t complain.
Why is this an issue?
As a Christian, I’m a firm believer in the following the command of Jesus:
“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven.”
Yes, it’s a bit extreme to call someone who disagrees with you an enemy, but this is how Heffernan refers to her neighbors who just happened to vote for a different presidential candidate.
But even if you’re not a believer in Jesus, wouldn’t you think that general human decency means that you can express your gratitude toward someone you don’t agree with?
Here’s the thing: I have friends who didn’t vote the way I did, but I don’t compare them to terrorists. They’re my friends. Heck, I have neighbors who are Florida fans, but I don’t hold that against them – except on the weekend of the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.
Why can’t we love our “enemies” these days? Why do we have to be so divided? Why do we have to demonize those who aren’t just like us?
Let’s apply the love of Jesus and His commands to our interactions with people around us. I bet if just a few of us did this, it could make a real difference. Imagine what would happen if everybody loved others like Jesus did.
Photo by Filip Mroz on Unsplash