A couple of days ago, we were getting ready to eat lunch
when George’s head popped over the fence.
when George’s head popped over the fence.
Yeah, George. Crazy neighbor George (you can read more about
him here).
him here).
“Sawadee Khrap,” he greeted me as I started walking away
from the serving table to my chair.
from the serving table to my chair.
I stopped in my tracks for a couple of seconds before
greeting him back. “Sawadee Kha.”
greeting him back. “Sawadee Kha.”
And I sat down in my chair and started to eat, thinking that
would be the end of the exchange.
would be the end of the exchange.
Imagine my surprise when, a few minutes later, George was
sitting beside me.
sitting beside me.
I looked across the circle at my teammates.
They all looked as confused as I felt.
George, of the crazy angry ranting and raving and busting up
church services, was sitting beside me.
church services, was sitting beside me.
Cool as a cucumber, at that.
And his voice sounded remarkably clear, too, as he and
Pastor’s wife, Air, talked for a couple of minutes.
Pastor’s wife, Air, talked for a couple of minutes.
We asked if George wanted to eat with us. Multiple times.
Air said no every time. He wanted to just sit.
Not knowing what else to do, we sat and talked in hushed
tones as we finished our lunch.
tones as we finished our lunch.
When we finished, Air sent George home with leftover food.
We asked Air later what the story with George was.
She said that George was getting better, and that they were
helping him.
helping him.
Jesus said to love your enemy.
Prayer is an excellent place to start, because there is
infinite power in our prayers to God.
infinite power in our prayers to God.
But is that really all there is to it?
“…[B]less those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat
you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If
someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to
everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand
it back.” Luke 6:28-30, NIV
you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If
someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to
everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand
it back.” Luke 6:28-30, NIV
I wonder how many times I’ve let this simple command pass me
by in the day to day.
by in the day to day.
How many times have I deemed my ‘enemy’ as unworthy of
kindness, and let them sit in the dark places where they’ve taken residence
because they know nothing else?
kindness, and let them sit in the dark places where they’ve taken residence
because they know nothing else?
How many people have been left without love because I withheld
it?
it?
Now, Air could easily have refused George.
He’s been a terror, to put it kindly, and she and Pastor
both have every reason in the world to do nothing for him.
both have every reason in the world to do nothing for him.
None of us there would have thought twice about it if she
had told him to go home and leave us alone.
had told him to go home and leave us alone.
I probably would have done that, if I were in her shoes.
But what is going to speak more about who Jesus is –
returning kindness to your enemy or rejecting them?
returning kindness to your enemy or rejecting them?
And what are you going to do when you’re presented with the
choice?
choice?
