No. Really. I want you to picture that person. What is it about them that you love? How do they make you feel? Can you actually put into words things about them which make you love them? I dont know about you, but I find it hard to describe something as profound and experiential as love. Lots of poets and artists and songwriters have tried to capture something of the feeling which love is. But mostly words just don't portray a fraction of the feelings which we experience when we think about, or are with people we deeply love.
If you are a parent then you probably agree that the love you feel for your children is something indescribably powerful. It is a fierce desire to protect, a passionate rush of joy, a complete fascination with every detail of their beings and an all consuming interest in every aspect of their wellbeing. It is also a pride in achievements, a delight in their personalities, a shared sense of humour and values and experience. And that barely scratches the surface of what it means to love somebody.
It isnt necessarily easy to love someone. Sometimes it is painful. Sometimes it involves sacrifices and expense and time and lots and lots of patience. But when you love someone you don't really count the cost. Because the benefits of being loved in return are just so huge. To love and be loved is surely the most precious thing in life.
Jesus says......
LOVE
your enemies.
Now I know that theologians will point out that the love Jesus talks about in Matthew 5 44-45 isnt the romantic or even the familial sort of love we have just been thinking about. But nontheless..... if we are supposed to love our enemies then it has to go further than merely tolerating their presence or being able to forgive them for the wrongs they do to us.
Of course all of this has been brought to my mind by the death of Martin McGuinness - former IRA terrorist turned politician and peacemaker in Northern Ireland where I now live. He was the enemy of many people in this land who saw him as being directly responsible for the murders of countless innocent civilians during the 30 year bloody reign of terror so quaintly and inappropriately called ' The Troubles'. It is thought that there is not one family in Northern Ireland who did not lose someone or have someone injured in those 30 years. Certainly everyone I have ever met here has a story to tell. They dont tell you those stories right away. But over time, in conversation, you hear the unfolding of histories and it is terribly sad. Keith's uncle was a delivery driver who was parking his van when a bomb went off nearby. He lost an arm and a leg. It is not surprising that people here have very mixed feelings about someone like Martin McGuinness. Im supposing that not many of us have ' enemies'. We hopefully don't live in fear of our lives. We probably are not aware of being the object of someones hatred. We might not get along with someone or other terribly well, or we might wish that the office bore would go and get another job elsewhere. But we would probably not classify those people as enemies. However there are many Christians around the world right now who are being persecuted. Shot, imprisoned, tortured, discriminated against, deprived, ridiculed, legislated against...... etc etc. And we cannot take it for granted that we will not be in the same boat sometime soon. If we can't learn to love those who mildy annoy us now, how can we learn to love our enemies when they appear on our doorstep? Here in Northern Ireland Christians are one step ahead on that road. They have had to search their hearts to find forgiveness. They have had to decide to lay down 'the cause', and then hatred and bitterness and emnity. They have made the choice to sit down at the table with those who have killed their friends and relatives and build peace. Some have managed to learn to love their enemies and the result is truly inspiring. Catholics and Protestants are living and working and praying together. Former terrorists are preaching sermons and leading people to Jesus. Communities which have been divided by physical walls are now working together to integrate their schools and shops and parks. Peace is a real thing. And it looks like this.
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