An "I" for a "I"

Matthew 5:38-48

I think an "eye for an eye" was meant to limit the escalation of retaliation. If someone poked out my eye, I imagine I'd want to inflict a lot more damage than just return the favour. Jesus entends that notion to it's logic conclusion. Our concern should be for the other person, and not for ourselves. Our response to what is inflicted upon us can change the situation completely.
Interestingly, though, Jesus doesn't say, "if someone pokes out your eye, turn to him the other". Being struck in the cheek, or taken advantage of are lesser offences than having your eye poked out. (Yes, I realize that eye for an eye, doesn't necessarily mean just that, it's just the concept of it). But, Jesus goes on to expand that we should love our enemies, and those who persecute us. This is the culmination, the crux, of what Jesus has been expounding here.
To me, it sounds unrealistic. But I've heard too many stories of the power of forgiveness in the lives of those who have wronged others. I heard of a lady in Rwanda, whose son had been killed during the violence there. She later "adopted" the young man who had killed her son, showing him forgiveness, but even going above and beyond. God did an amazing thing in the lives of these two people, because she chose to obey these words of Jesus.
May we find that same faithfulness in us when the occassion arises.