I say to you, love your enemy, bless the one who curses you. Matthew 5:44 (MSG)
Enemy Love
We all have an inner critic. An enemy voice inside us that taunts and whispers and judges. Sometimes it’s loud and consuming, other times, it's soft and ghostly. Yet, it’s always there.
We stumble under its weight. Bend and obey to its suggestions and comments, fearful of how powerful it is, too scared to look that critic in the eye. Mostly because that voice seems to originate from some of the most vulnerable places inside us: our fears, failures, lies, and mistakes. And the critic does a great job of keeping those at the forefront of every conversation it has with you.
It tells you evil and vile things about others, too. Why some shouldn’t be trusted, why others have an unfair advantage, why you should have what someone has… An enemy voice that wants you to make enemies with yourself and others.
We run from this voice. Or try to numb it with any number of things. We yell and scream and throw prayers at it. Dodge its fiery missiles and try to emancipate it from our souls. And for all my running and yelling and declaring and avoiding and numbing: the voice remains. It’s dark shadow over my life making it seem all the more powerful.
But, what if our inner critic had something to tell us? What if we invited the critic in for tea and offered it a chocolate chip cookie. What if instead of running from the voice, we welcomed it, looked it straight in the eye. Asked it to come and sit with us in the light?
It’s a weird thing to do. It seems counter-culture to invite a hateful voice questioning your worth and validity to sit at the table. It’s not comfortable. But something extraordinary happens in such a gracious space:
The critic’s shadow disappears in the light. It seems small and almost timid. It’s gaze less fierce and focused than you imagined.
You can talk with it, play a board-game, maybe even jump on snap chat for a bit. Welcome it along for a long and boring car ride, or to watch your favorite TV show. Suddenly, it's not so dangerous or scary or threatening. Inclusion tends to break down inflated assumptions and walls.
“Your ancestors have also been taught ‘Love your neighbors and hate the one who hates you.’ However, I say to you, love your enemy, bless the one who curses you, do something wonderful for the one who hates you, be and respond to the very ones who persecute you by praying for them.” Jesus, Matt 5:44 (TPT).
Love your enemies, even if that enemy is you. Your inner critic isn't nearly as powerful as you are, not if you are willing to look it in the eye.
The light of love makes everything less dark.
Written by Liz Milani
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