 January/February 2001 (XXXIX 1) |
In a recent report on the peace vigil at Independence Mall, John Gallery wrote tenderly about love, particularly loving one's enemies.
Often, the phrase "embrace the enemy" speaks to me -- apparently "embrace" is a reasonably correct translation from Jesus' teaching. One day, when I mindfully embraced one of my daughters, trying to pour love into the embrace although I was angry, I experienced the melting of the anger. The event's lesson was, when we surround an "enemy" with love, either physically or spiritually, we provide an opening for our own return to unity with the Light or with God. (I accept that Friends are comfortable with a variety of words for our "Fountain" and "Guide.")
Back to that embrace, the dawning experience of a unity with the "enemy" or opponent also becomes available to be sensed by the opponent. (Modern literature on nonviolent interaction often uses the word "opponent," to indicate one who holds an opposing view, rather than the word "enemy.") This dawning invites the opponent into the Unity, One, or Light.
The act of embrace opens us, allowing Love to enter. We are transformed, and very often there is transformation in the opponent, also.
Embarking on the embrace, thus having willingness to open oneself, requires Faith.
Making a spiritual completion of the embrace requires Love.
Practice in embracing the opponent, or the stranger, informs and transforms us.
Gail Newbold
London Grove Meeting (PA)
Last modified: Wednesday, February 18, 2004 at 08:18 AM