Poem September 26, 1977 Issue

THE BOTTOM LINE

Lona Ingwerson

Love my neighbor as myself!
That was his urgent demand.
He didn't make many of them,
But that was of utmost importance.
It's a big order,
Bigger than it seems at first glance.
It means outgrowing error of all kinds.
I was prepared to give up some kinds,
The uncomfortable ones like pain and sorrow,
But self-righteousness, self-will, self-love—
I'd grown accustomed to.
I didn't really enjoy those qualities,
I had just accepted them.

Now I am told to do three things:
Love Him—God,
Love my neighbor,
Love myself.

Could I do that? Could I be conscious only of good in myself and
others?

I really have nothing to lose
And everything to gain.
It's adding, not subtracting.
I really can't afford not to.
I owe that much to Him.

Lona Ingwerson

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