These are difficult times. In the face of such division, hatred, disagreement, feuding, and tension in our world, what should we do? Should we dig in our heels? Should we yell our message even louder? Should we bury our heads in the sand and pretend that all is well?

Three quotes came to mind.

“I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.” — Jesus, Matthew 5:44

Jesus makes it very clear; we are to love our enemies, and we are to pray for those who harm us.

“This shift in our world, many will have to heal themselves deeply by doing their inner work, releasing burdens within themselves, and creating enough space so that their own self-love can breathe deeply and expand into unconditional love. As more expand into this field of greater egolessness, the world will shift with us and be significantly relieved of the greed that sits at the center of the imbalance that we currently experience. Our love as a humanity does not need to be perfectly unconditional to change the world—every time our collective love grows, it creates a better future.” — Yung Pueblo

What would happen if our world’s collective love grew? What would happen if everyone committed to healing themselves, to releasing their burdens, and to sharing unconditional love?

“Many of the twisted minds and crippled characters in the world were made by careless parents who kept their children away from knives and fires, but put permanent scars on their souls.” — Gilbert Highet

With these wise words in mind, this is my message.

When we face our political, social, economic, or moral enemies, let us pray for them. Let’s not demonize them. Let’s not hate them. Let’s not even ignore them. Let’s pray for them, and let’s pray that they can heal themselves deeply, release their burdens truly, and that they can grow in their unconditional love for themselves and for their neighbors.

If everyone loved themself, and if everyone loved each other, there would be an end to many of the issues that plague our world.

Let’s remember this: our enemies were children once, and maybe they were kept away from knives and fires, but maybe they weren’t kept away from experiences, teachers, influences, or ideas that left permanent scars on their souls.

We are all wounded; we are all in need of forgiveness. If we can visualize our enemies as wounded wanderers in need of just as much grace as we do, then maybe, over time, we can learn to love them as Jesus instructed: “I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.”