Who Is My Neighbor (Or Enemy)?

From crime dramas familiar

“Who was his enemy?”

So often our response is quick

“What? No one could hate me!”

But let’s reverse the question

“Who are those my heart hates?”

And still we give hasty reply

“I love all, small and great.”

We claim to love, but do we?

Do our words reflect that claim?

As we mock and scoff at others,

Those who bear another name?

Maybe a different church group,

Ideology or faith,

“Other” party political

Background, language, or race.

We treat them with suspicion,

Sure that they view us with hate,

Not realizing we ourselves

Wish evil as their fate.

As we desire their sorrow

“Pray for them,” Christ orders us

“Return them good for evil”

“Love your foe” and in Me trust.

So many that we mock now

Are neighbors, “least of those.”

God sees their hearts as precious,

Longs to save while we oppose.

Let us reverse our viewpoint,

Fighting unfleshly foes,

And loving well those strange or same

As God His kingdom grows.

Of Hope and Rhymes