The other day as I was in the car alone, driving to a doctor's appointment, I began thinking of those people in the church that slander, that stir up strife, that make me want to apologize to the world for their behavior. I thought of those who have mistreated me. I thought of those that get on my nerves and those whose behavior makes me reticent to admit they are my brothers and sisters. Then I remembered G.K. Chesterton's quote: "The Bible tells us to love our neighbors and also to love our enemies, probably because they're generally the same people."
These brothers and sisters sometimes act as enemies. And they are the people that I am to love.
Of course, I could turn it around; I wonder if I have been an enemy to a brother or sister. I wonder if someone has had to work very hard to love me (I know my husband has at times!).
Our neighbors, those closest to us, can be our enemies.
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