Loving Our Enemies…A reflection on praying for Michael

Loving our enemies?

By Leslie Hanks 

One of the most difficult aspects of this walk we have as followers of Jesus, is the imprecation to love our enemies.

Who wants to do that?

A particularly vivid example in many of our lives at this juncture in history, is the wicked troika who seem to hold the fate of our friend Terri Schindler Schiavo in their hands.

One writer asks the question about Terri’s former spouse, “husband or monster?”

Monster, I say!!  It gives me some measure of comfort to describe him that way, I’m sorry to admit.  And frankly, I don’t want to change my opinion of him or the other creeps who have abused Terri for over a decade.

But what does the good book say about those we conclude are our enemies?

Before we explore that, let me admit I don’t want to love my enemies.  I don’t even want to pray for them.  But like many of you I must conclude that all of the amazing efforts to spare Terri’s life by the thousands of us who care about protecting innocent life, at this point seem to be falling short of getting the job done.

Do we need to examine who the real enemy is and acknowledge that Michael and his minions are as lost as we once were – but for the grace of God?

I don’t know what else to do at this point to make a difference that actually might save Terri, so that she can bask in the sunshine and breathe deep the fragrance of flowers, while her eyes take in the deep azure blue of the ocean’s deep.

I must admit that I’m willing at this late date to try another tact and pray that the Good Lord will save Michael, George Felos and “judge” Greer and bring them into His kingdom before they face the justice they will so richly deserve, should

they carry out their diabolical plan.

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”  Romans 12:20-21

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.  But I tell you:  Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.”  Matthew 5:43-44.

“But I tell you who hear me:  Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”  Luke 6:27.

Amazingly, there are numerous others.  Yet, I’m having trouble enough understanding these.   They go so against my grain! All my prayers for the past 18 months for Terri, and now I must confront the fact that perhaps, I should have been praying for the salvation of the aforementioned hit squad.

Before we mentally send them packing to the vivid depictions of a Hieronymous Bosch painting, will we pledge to stand together as a body of believers and pray fervently that the Lord will remove the scales from their eyes, that they will repent and let Terri live?

But most of all may we all continue to pray that Saint Terri will have taught America not only the valuable lessons our nation needs to learn regarding the infinite value of all human life but also the depth of corruption of our judicial system which needs to be swept clean, from top to bottom.

And finally, may we collectively pray that the good men in our land, who have the power to do what is necessary to save an innocent life will dig deeply into their reservoir of courage and boldly step out to do the noble, right and just thing.

“Father God, we are absolutely helpless before you, we beseech your majesty and beg your forgiveness for not consistently praying that Terri’s tormentors be saved. Please work a mighty work in their hearts and minds that they will repent of  their wicked ways.  We pray that they will seek your merciful forgiveness for their abuse of our sister Terri, lo these many years.  In the matchless name of Jesus, we pray, Amen”

Leslie Hanks is Vice President of Colorado Right to Life and traveled to be at Terri’s vigil in October 2003 when her feeding tube was removed.