“And however you want people to treat you, treat them the same way. If you love only those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even criminals love those who love them! If you [in fact] treat well only those who treat you well, what credit is that to you? Even criminals do the same. And if you lend only to those from whom you hope to get the loan back, what kind of credit [is] that to you? Even criminals lend to other criminals, meaning to get back an equal amount. No, love your enemies and be helpful and lend without the hope of getting anything back. Then your payment will be generous, and you'll be sons of the highest one, because he's gracious to the ungrateful and to those full of mischief.”

— Jesus, The Gospel According to Loukas 6:31-35, Sarah Ruden translation

Perhaps I should write something about politics because today is election hangover day, but if there was not an election I would still be sitting down to write this update, so write it I will. I am a few days late because our family has been dealing with some health issues that required most of my time and energy. They are mostly resolved, and we are on our way to a sort of normalcy, but there is still a constant stress. The election has not helped. My wife and I voted early, and looked up the results this morning. Bah humbug. It is an evil to me that politics can goad the most lovely, generous, and kind people into such hateful speech and action. It is all the more evil to me when I read the words of Jesus, and see Christians worrying themselves and everyone around them to death. Those words “love thine enemy” have never been easy to follow, but they are the only words which I believe worth sharing about this mess. Don't forget that Jesus told this to Jews oppressed by a Roman regime that could crush and steal everything they owned with impunity. It would have been much more shocking to hear for them, which does not mean our troubles are not troubles. What it means is that the words of Jesus are no less relevant today than they were yesterday. So “love thine enemy,” and “take heart! I have overcome the world.”