Lately in my class, the students and I have been perusing ancient Greek playwrights and philosophers. You’ve heard of them: Sophocles, Socrates, Plato. Truth is a Big Issue for these guys, and our discussion about that has led to debates about more modern and post-modern ideas. Where, exactly, is Truth? What is it? And can’t it be that what is True for you might not be True for me? Can’t it be that we all have a different perception of what is Good? And isn’t that okay?
You are my sacrifice, my Lamb I lay on the altar
So that I may have life. Your blood is my way to the Father.
I spilled coffee on my way out of the house this morning, and this was because I was slamming the door, and this was because I was annoyed, and I was annoyed at my husband. My husband, who was up until Far Too Late creating a photo album for his family, who was up Far Earlier than necessary because he was making lunches and folding laundry and helping his family get out the door on time, who listens whenever I need him too (which isn’t seldom), who is So Very Kind To Me. I was annoyed at him for reasons rational and irrational, for a lack of sleep and a presiding fear of the day ahead, for sorrow over friends who live so very far away. I was annoyed, and I left the house angry.
Almighty God beheld in flesh, Your body they murdered and buried.
Rising up and overcoming death, my burden You lifted and carried.
So I offer up my life. It’s all that I have to give
And confess that I have sinned.
Praise the Lamb.
For a time, I enjoyed the friendship of a fellow in my graduate program whose religious faith is vastly different from my own. His tradition is non-traditional, in the classic sense. His religion is one that I’ve only noticed popping up over the last decade, and I learned about it, mostly, from him. We discussed religion quite a bit, in fact, and there was a lot about his religion that sounded really good to me. But in the end, I couldn’t buy it. I need the blood, I told him. If I know nothing else about myself, I do know, at least, this much: I am guilty of unkindness and meanness and lowness of thought, of selfishness and self-righteousness and a willful desire to sin. And on a good day, I want so terribly badly to be made Clean.
With one sacrifice You have forever made perfect
Those who are being made holy.
We’re being made holy.
So I offer up my life. It’s all that I have to give
And confess that I have sinned.
Praise the Lamb.
Praise the Lamb.
Praise the Lamb who was slain.
lyrics “Praise the Lamb” by alli rogers
