Boston Marathon Bombing: Loving Enemies

“Love your enemies.”

Talk about radical teaching, but even on a day like today makes me love Jesus more. Because how many people today, how many religions right now, anywhere in the U.S. or the world, are thinking, “I really want to find those responsible for the Boston Marathon explosions and love on them”?  But not just love in general, but love for the very person or people that thrive on hate! Maybe a few religions teach this and that’s cool. But man, Jesus did this even when it was difficult. Whether you align yourself with him or not, he lived what he taught- even when he was dying on a cross he was praying for the soldiers as they mocked him. Not to mention, he’s the only one no one can find. Where’s his body? But anyway, I’ll stop. Back to the current events. 

We live in crazy world. I overhead a co-worker today ask another, “Why can’t we just be sweet to each other?” Couldn’t have said it better myself. I mean, at this point it hasn’t been determined who set up the Boston Marathon explosions or why, but come on, people. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news (sarcasm here), but hate (or resentment like the quote below) will eat you up and will never, ever fill up what’s missing in your life. Events like this also help the rest of us onlookers re-evaluate what really matters. These are scary times. Spend time with those you love, and like Switchfoot asked so many years ago, “This is your life, are you who you want to be?” Now’s the time to go be it.

“Resentment is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die.”
-Anne Lamott

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
-Martin Luther King, Jr.