New International Version
And if your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell. Mathew 18:9

Among other verses, this was always a weird and uncomfortable verse to me, for I don’t want to lose a limb or go through that sort of pain. But I’ve learned a few things along the way, and how I see this verse is: am I willing to hurt to live what I believe in? So now, that I can keep my limbs and eyes, it puts me in a contemplative mode. Am I? So this morning, while my thoughts lingered on this idea, based on this Bible verse, a poem was born. I’ll share it with you.

CAN YOU DO IT?

To pluck one’s eye, if
sin may cause it harm, it’s shocking,
gross, and madness. To
cut my hand if sin
may cause it harm is also so
barbaric. Why, God, so
crazy of a talk?
“It’s better bloodied
you may be when
entering the heavens,
then clean and cold,
and boring and near-death
with apathy.
When you’re passionate
for life, and dare I
say, you love your enemy,
It is far more interesting
of a life, than a dead
log, on your couch of indifference
for you to be.
So take a stand, even
if bleeding, and have the
courage to get injured
for the right thing.”
Which is?
“Love, my dear kid.” by Carmen McKnight