An Ode To The Body

Oh body, I know I take you for granted

I complain about you incessantly and

I grow weary of your weariness

I don't take care of you

But I still expect so much from you

I loathe your pains and

I seek your pleasures

I search for your comforts but

I get tired of your problems

When you ache I sleep

When you suffer I whine

When you need more of me

I give up on you

Oh body

My hands

My feet

My mind

When will I ever realize

That you've not yet given up on me and

When will I ever realize

That I should not give up on you

When will I realize
That to ignore your cries is to ignore the cries of others

When will I realize

That to be part of the Body

The Body of Christ

Means to love you more than I love myself

And means

To build you up instead of beating you down

When will I realize

That baptism cancels out narcissism

And that the many parts

Make up this one beautiful body

-TMWH (2008)