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WHO IS MY ENEMY This day has almost surrendered all it's light. The sun is setting and much of what I expected to accomplish this week is yet undone. How typical of my endeavors, once again coming up short of what I had planned. However, Monday I can once more try to play catch up, that is, if it doesn't rain. Perhaps that is an inescapable facet of life, the need to catch up tomorrow. It is the Saturday evening after The Tuesday Morning of September 11th and much of the world is trying to catch up with the reality of horror and destruction. This Tuesday it rained terror. It has been a week of shock, pain, heartbreak, trauma, heroics and death…an endless specter of scenes, beyond even our vivid imaginations, tugging hard on every emotional fiber of our souls. In each of the last two issues, I've been promising to tell how the Lord blessed me by giving me proven "enemies" to love and hold up in prayer. What little did I know! All that I have experienced throughout the years of my life, pale in the horror that unfolded this week. Once again I, as well as you, must ponder, "Who is my enemy?" Where is my enemy lurking and what is he planning next? I have spent the week preparing to teach a Sunday school lesson on being the "faithful servant". Paul is applauding the Thessalonians for their work produced by faith, their labor prompted by love, and their endurance inspired by hope. My study and preparation continued to bring to mind the efforts and stories of all the folk ministering at "ground zero", where once was the World Trade Center. I sit here, in awe of life, watching the day and the week come to a close. I last reported to you the incident occurring in my 14th year, when I was ambushed and beaten by two teenage brothers bent on their perception of "vengeance". I was preparing to share with you how the Lord led me to minister to their lives, those two who hated me enough to plan and execute that vicious attack, threatening to throw me off of a bridge 30 feet above a creek bed. That is until, in Saturday afternoon matinee fashion, a gang of kids showed up just in the 'nick of time' to save the day. Many of you, perhaps, have been similarly assaulted. But this is the first time that I had sensed that someone severely disliked me. Oh, Pug McCoy and Joe Campbell used to wrestle me to the ground and stick my nose in the dirt for the entire recess period, but I didn't figure that they hated me. They were just two or three years older and felt the need to beat on someone. I happened to be handy. But this past Tuesday we citizens of the USA, we folk who are called "Americans", were stunned similarly, but on an unbelievably larger scale. Someone hated us enough to kill thousands of innocent people in a horrendous fashion. We observed the horror on our TV sets. We watched people who hated us enough - to dance and cheer in the streets at the news of our horror. Today we struggle with the questions: who are these people, who perpetrated this attack, how can I be hated so much… Who are my enemies? I personally struggle with many questions. I'm sure you do also. Some have suggested that we, as a sinning nation, have opened ourselves up to the wrath of God. Some have declared that our foundations are firm. The conjecture is that our resolve as a God fearing Christian nation, committed to freedom, responsibility, law and order is being tested. In the history of the world, God used mighty nations to carry out his wrath. Occasions of such are recorded in the Bible. I pray that in this rein of unholy terror, God will use this mighty nation to carry out His wrath upon the evil entities that subject countless innocent people to heartbreak, horror and death. I also pray that our hearts will be we filled with Christ taught compassion as we strive to bring the evil of terrorist hate and blackmail to an end. On "That Tuesday" evening, a friend suggested, "Perhaps on this day we are all at least on "one page", with all our petty arguments set aside." Billy Graham in his Friday memorial address had this to say: "Yes, our nation has been attacked, buildings destroyed, and lives lost. But now we have a choice: whether to implode and disintegrate emotionally and spiritually as a people and a nation -- or, whether we choose to become stronger through all of this struggle -- to rebuild on a solid foundation. That Foundation is our trust in God." Christ gave us teachings as to appropriate attitudes and behavior toward our enemies. But I find it hard to focus on interactions with so many unknown and illusive phantoms. I need a face, a personal confrontation, in order to apply his teachings. I need to know my enemy. The big enemies, who would create unspeakable horror upon thousands of my fellow citizens, I have no choice but to leave to the responsibility and discretion of my government. But who is my little enemy? I have lived and experienced life long enough to know he is there, living among those who love and respect me, as well as, those who just put up with me. Do I need to know him? Yes, I think so. I need to look around and know who he, my little enemy, might be. And know why he might dislike or hate me. I need to know so that I might lift him in prayer and show God's love while exercising a resolve for the path of right. "Cups of Coffee" was conceived to be a dialog between the reader and the writer. These introductory issues have been mostly a monolog, relating the spiritual experiences of my youth. My hope is that you, the reader, will share your thoughts and experiences. In every thought, every idea, every problem - understanding can be enhanced by the sharing of our different perspectives. Email Gene The Author of CUPS OF COFFE |
Copyright ©2001 Gene Shrout. All rights reserved.