I read a funny story this week about enemies: there once was a knight who returned to his castle at twilight. His armor was dented, his helmet was broken, his face was bloody, his horse was limping. The lord of the manor met him at the gate, asking, “What has befallen you, Sir Knight?”
Straightening himself up in his saddle as best he could, he replied, “Sire, I have been laboring in your service, robbing and burning and pillaging your enemies to the west.”
“You have been doing what?” cried the startled nobleman. “But I don’t have any enemies to the west!”
There was a big pause and a small clearing of his throat as the knight responded, “Well, Sire, I think you do now.”

What about you? Enemies to the west, anyone? How about to the north, or the south, or the east? How about next door, or at work, or in your class, or on the other side of the globe?
Few of us will sail through life as friends with everyone we meet. Though most conflicts can be resolved and relationships healed, some issues may drive a permanent wedge between people. Heartfelt moral, political, and religious stances can polarize folks who just as passionately hold differing positions.
What’s a believer in Christ to do?
Just remember the words of our Savior and Teacher, Jesus. In the account of His “Sermon on the Mount” (Matthew 5-7), Jesus challenged each of us to love our enemies and to pray for them. Even those who are opposed to us and what we stand for can serve a purpose. They can show us some things about ourselves. They can help us see what we may have missed. They can sharpen our own points of view and strengthen our resolve. They can teach us about being strong in the face of criticism.
If enemies cannot become our friends, they certainly can become our teachers. Let’s respond to Jesus’ call to listen and learn from everyone who God brings in touch with our lives, especially when we do not agree with them. If we do this, God will use what even our enemies are saying to teach us what our friends cannot.
In Christ’s love and service,
~Rev. Linda