Who is my enemy?
I will never forget that tragic day in Durban, South Africa. I was 13 years old and was playing tag in the front yard with my brothers, sisters and friends on a beautiful sunny day of bliss when my mother called family inside. The tears ran down her face as she held a newspaper article that reported my father's tragic death in East Africa.
The circumstances surrounding his death raised some question marks. Nevertheless, everything seemed to indicate that he was a victim of the Mao Mao War, which took place from 1952 to 1960 and which was directed against the colonial rule of Kenya. The most active group in the armed conflict came from the Kikuyu, the largest tribe in Kenya. Even if the clashes were primarily directed against the British colonial power and white settlers, there were also violent clashes between Mao Mao and the loyal Africans. My father was a major in a Kenyan regiment at the time and played an important role in the war and was therefore on the hit list. I was emotionally distressed, confused, and very upset as a young teenager. The only thing I was aware of was the loss of my beloved father. This was shortly after the end of the war. He had planned to move to South Africa with us in a few months. At the time, I didn't understand the exact reason for the war and only knew that my father was fighting a terrorist organization. She was the enemy that caused many of our friends to lose their lives!
Not only did we have to cope with the traumatic loss, but we were also faced with the fact that we could face a life of great poverty because the state authorities refused to pay us off the value of our property in East Africa. My mother was then faced with the challenge of finding a job and raising five school-age children with a meager salary. Even so, in the years that followed, I remained true to my Christian faith and did not stir up anger or hatred against the people who were responsible for my father's terrible death.
No other way
The words that Jesus spoke as he hung on the cross, looking at those who had denounced, taunted, whipped, nailed him to the cross and watched him die in agony comforted me in my pain: “Father, forgive you because they don't know what they're doing."
The crucifixion of Jesus was instigated by the self-righteous religious leaders of the time, the scribes and Pharisees, wrapped in politics, authority and complacency in their own world. In this world they grew up and they were deeply anchored in their own psyche and the cultural traditions of their time. The message that Jesus preached posed a serious threat to the continued existence of this world. So they made a plan to bring him to justice and crucify him. It was completely wrong to do so, but they saw no other way.
The Roman soldiers were part of another world, part of an imperialist rule. They just followed orders from their superiors as any other loyal soldier would have done. They saw no other way.
I too had to face the truth: the Mao Mao rebels were caught in a vicious war that was about survival. Your own freedom has been compromised. They grew up believing in their cause and chose the route of violence to secure freedom. They saw no other way. Many years later, in 1997, I was invited to be a guest speaker at a meeting near Kibirichia in the eastern Meru region of Kenya. It was an exciting opportunity to explore my roots and show my wife and children the awe-inspiring nature of Kenya, and they were delighted with it.
In my opening speech I talked about the childhood that I enjoyed in this beautiful country, but did not talk about the dark side of the war and the death of my father. Shortly after my appearance, a gray-haired elderly man came walking on a crutch and with a big smile on his face. Surrounded by an enthusiastic group of around eight grandchildren, he asked me to sit down because he wanted to tell me something.
This was followed by a touching moment of an unexpected surprise. He spoke openly about the war and how, as a member of the Kikuju, he was in a terrible battle. I heard from the other side of the conflict. He said he was part of a movement that wanted to live free and work on the lands that were taken from them. Sadly, he and many thousands of others lost loved ones, including wives and children. This warm Christian gentleman then looked at me with eyes filled with love and said, "I am so sorry for the loss of your father." I found it hard to hold back tears. Here we were, talking as Christians a few decades later, having previously been on opposing sides in one of Kenya's cruelest wars, though I was just a naïve child at the time of the conflict.
We were instantly connected by a deep friendship. Even though I never harbored bitterness toward those responsible for my father's death, I felt a profound reconciliation with the story. Philippians 4:7 then came to mind: "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." The love, peace, and grace of God united us in oneness in His presence. Our roots in Christ brought us healing, breaking the cycle of pain in which we had spent much of our lives. An indescribable sense of relief and liberation filled us. The way God brought us together reflects the futility of war, conflict, and hostility. In most cases, neither side truly won. It breaks the heart to see Christians fighting against Christians in the name of their respective causes. In times of war, both sides pray to God, asking Him to take their side, and in times of peace, those same Christians are most likely to be friends.
Learning to let go
This life-changing encounter helped me to better understand the Bible verses that speak of loving one's enemies. (Lk 6,27-36)Beyond a war situation, it also raises the question: Who are our enemies and adversaries? What about the people we encounter every day? Are we fostering hatred and resentment towards others? Perhaps towards the superior we don't get along with? Perhaps towards the close friend who has deeply hurt us? Perhaps towards the neighbor with whom we are quarreling?
The text from Luke does not forbid wrongdoing. Rather, it is about keeping the bigger picture in mind by practicing forgiveness, grace, kindness, and reconciliation, and becoming the person Christ calls us to be. It is about learning to love as God loves, maturing and growing as Christians. Bitterness and rejection can easily trap us and exert control over us. Learning to let go, by surrendering the circumstances we cannot control or influence into God's hands, makes the real difference. Johannes 8,31-32 Jesus encourages us to listen to his words and act accordingly: “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” This is the key to freedom in his love.
by Robert Klynsmith
