Mark 9:43-48 Illustrated

Today, Tom White is learning to run for the third time in his life.

The October 2008 issue of Runner's World tells his remarkable story. White, a medical doctor by trade arranged to have his left leg cut off. While over 3,500 limb amputations are performed every week in the United States, this one was different. You see it was not medically necessary. It is unlikely there was a doctor in the land who would have recommended it and I really doubt that insurance covered it.

A couple of decades ago White was a competitive runner, achieving a measurable amount of success at the collegiate level. But everything changed when he was involved in a serious motorcycle accident which nearly severed his leg. Remarkable for the time of the time accident, his leg was saved.

Several years later, he met and married a runner. He cheered for her as she competed, but he ached to run again himself. Eventually he taught himself how to run all over again.

However, the long term damage from his accident made running more and more difficult over the years. Even to the point that walking was becomiming painful at times. So much so that White became convinced that he would be better off without the leg. His desire to run again was so strong that he "he decided to pay a man to cut off his leg with a power saw." (The man was a noted surgeon, but you still get the point.) Today with the use of a high tech prostheses White is back on the road, running again.

Tom White would rather be a runner that have both his legs.

I am impressed by Tom's commitment....and to be honest, a little concerned about mine.

And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell,to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, 'where their worm does not die and

the fire is not quenched.'

Mark 9:43-48 ESV