From my forthcoming book Praying without Pretence: Honest Prayers for Honest People, coming out this summer, here’s a prayer for when we find some people particularly difficult to love.
When finding some people impossible to love
Love my enemies?
Come off it,
I find it hard enough to love my friends!
Even with those nearest and dearest to me,
my love is flawed –
genuine, certainly,
but imperfect for all that,
too often spoiled by selfishness,
insensitivity,
pride.
And though there are many I claim to love –
well, to like anyway –
I’m all too conscious of how weak my commitment to them really is.
I’d help them, if I could;
be a friend to them in time of need,
provided it didn’t cost me too much;
but if that involved putting myself out,
let alone real sacrifice,
I know I’d soon be found wanting.
And if that’s true of those I get on with,
those I warm to,
it’s all the more so of those who might seek to harm me,
do me down?
For all my talk of forgiveness and turning the other cheek,
if someone hurt me or my family,
threatened one hair of their head,
love would be the last thing I’d feel for them.
I’d want revenge,
to see them punished;
my heart would be full of hate.
Are you serious, Lord?
Do you really expect me to love my enemies?
Well, if you are, all I can say is this:
it’s down to you –
I need your help –
for there’s no way I can do it on my own.
Amen.