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From Sheridan Voysey, Writer and broadcaster: 
There’s a character in a novel by the American author Leif Enger that I find intriguing. Jeremiah Land is a single father of three who works as a cleaner at a local school. He is also a man of deep, sometimes even miraculous, faith. The antagonist in the story is Chester Holden, the mean-spirited superintendent of the school. Despite Jeremiah’s high work ethic, Holden wants him gone. In a humiliating scene, one day, in front of all the students, Holden accuses Jeremiah of coming to work drunk, and fires him.
The question now is how Jeremiah will respond. Will he slink away shamed, threaten legal action for unfair dismissal, or take to Holden with his broom handle! As I read, I wondered what I would do in that situation. ‘Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.’ These challenging words of Jesus on dealing with the antagonists of the world seem naïve until you remember Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jnr changed history by following them.
As they showed, loving an enemy doesn’t mean accepting their abuse or stopping justice being pursued. It means refusing to take revenge, and instead, doing what we can to help them become the human being they could be. Many have commented on the widening divisions in our country right now—divisions not just between political parties but within them, gaps opening between communities, ethnicities and generations. We may not use the word ‘enemy’ to describe those we disagree with, but it can feel like society has more ‘opponents’ now than normal. 
Like Jeremiah Land in Leif Enger’s novel, the question is how we will respond. Jeremiah looks for a moment at his bullying boss Chester Holden who has just fired him, then reaches out and touches his face, which is scarred and blemished. Holden steps back defensively, ready to fight, then feels his cheeks in wonder. Miraculously, his skin has been healed. In times of division, we can do with a few miracles. I want to make a few happen by reaching out to those I disagree with.