A Counterintuitive Step in Loving Our Opponents

In our Lenten series on Revolutionary Love, so far, we have been focusing on practices to help us “see no stranger.” We began with wonder, seeking to see everyone who is “other” as infinitely complex, gifted, and valuable, and to practice curiosity toward them as another beloved child of God. From this, we deepened the invitation to also listen for what grief that “other” may carry, and to open ourselves to be present with them in their grief—not to fix or minimize it, but to express compassion and solidarity. But learning of the suffering of others, and feeling empathy for their pain often motivates us to want to act—with or for them—which is the third practice: to fight. 

This week, we’ll turn our focus from loving others to the deeper and more challenging invitation to grow in our love for our “opponents.” Valarie Kaur is careful to not focus this practice on loving our “enemies,” because the label enemy implies a more permanent, fixed relationship. Whereas, an opponent may be so only for a time or in a particular circumstance. 

The first practice of these next three, focused on laboring in love for our opponents, is perhaps not intuitive though. It may be even more surprising than Fight. It is, however, prevalent in the witness of our scriptures, and a helpful reminder to tend to the log in our own eye before criticizing the splinter in another’s. It is one that honors our true humanity, but also the divine image in us, and our natural response to unjust and undeserved suffering. 

Maybe you’ll be surprised to find out what it is… on Sunday.