Love your enemies? Is that practical?

“I do believe this has to be fought on a higher spiritual level, but the more I learn, the harder I find it is to love thy neighbour, when neighbours so willfully do horrible things to each other and others.” —A comment from a reader of my recent badexperiment.com post “A Disturbing Connection.”

Who would not sympathize with that victims viewpoint? Indeed, it may seem that the Bible’s counsel to “love your enemies” (Matthew 5:44) simply isn’t practical for individuals targeted by ongoing harassment that includes psychological attacks by community based groups and directed-energy weapons torture. Perhaps you feel that way too. Putting that into practice may be the most difficult thing we are asked to do, especially when confronted by the evil of others on a daily basis!

Here is a motivation that you may not have thought about. Following the admonition to “love your enemies” can mean the difference between good health and bad! A recent study found that a single bout of anger produces effects in the body that lasts more than a week including elevated blood pressure. In fact, blood pressure continues to rise for a week after a single stressful incident! Researchers at the University of California and Columbia University examining the long term effects of anger have concluded that “stressful events have the potential to continue to do harm long after they are ended.” Anger has been linked to a higher risk of heart disease, hardening of the arteries, and other health problems.

Think about it . . . If the mere sight of someone who has done you harm triggers anger, it also burdens your cardiovascular system! That internal damage is compounded if your anger is repeatedly triggered on a daily basis!

I have seen rich benefits in my personal (and admittedly imperfect) efforts to “love my enemies.” Of course, caution is always in order when dealing with such individuals. Yet, I find treating all persons with common decency and kindness emotionally liberating. Unresolved anger is a physical and emotional drain. By refusing to allow anger to develop when targeted by unjust treatment, I have more energy and greater emotional control. I get more done. I am calmer, and less likely to be distracted from what really matters on a day by day basis. This is a daily challenge. However, by focusing on the practical benefits of doing so, I can keep my thinking and actions under control. Responding in this way means my survival and capacity for joy are not diminished, but strengthened. The adversity I face, while being a part of my life, never overwhelms it.

Despite enduring more than eleven years of attacks, I have never suffered from high blood pressure, ulcers, or other serious psychosomatic effects of long term distress. I have never taken any kind of medication or sleeping pills. I have avoided alcohol dependency and abuse, and do not use any illegal drugs. “Loving my enemies” gives me the strength to face my challenges without emotional crutches.

Undeniably, learning to “love your enemies” is a challenge. Yet, it can help you to minimize or even avoid long-term damage caused by distressing negative emotions. That is good for both your mental and physical health. In fact, we can think of the counsel to “love your enemies” as good medicine!

A Reader’s Response:
I found a comment emailed to me by one reader of this article of value. It is quoted below:

“I grasped this concept a few years back and I MADE myself ACT happy. I did this by forcing a smile on my face every time I went out in public . . . even though I did not feel happy, I displayed happiness and soon I started to see the reactions from the community stalkers. They were not happy that I was smiling all the time and a couple of them got very angry at me because I was smiling all the time..This encouraged me even more to continue with my ACT of happiness . . . the result was I indeed did become happy and the physical ailments my body was feeling diminished to the point where I only feel mild attacks to my body . . . I have seen a remarkable difference in my health and also I saw that my community harassers no longer verbally tried to harass me . . . I still get the odd real grumpy person, but I just laugh like crazy at them and give them the peace sign . . . Spread the LOVE . . . It works wonders.” —Submitted by Reader

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