Good Friday

A very long time ago, I wrote a song. The lyrics are from the point of view of Roman soldier who plays an integral role in crucifying Jesus. Some good friends helped bring it to life with their musical talents that remain far superior to mine.  As the band grew, and I left on good terms to finish my computer science degree, the song eventually fell off the set list. It was never officially recorded or released - that I know of, anyway.  Yet, I've always wanted to do something more with it. I feel like it still has some potential.

So, today, I have taken it upon myself to re-write the lyrics a little, give it a new title, and who knows, maybe eventually it will get some new life. After all, new life is what this weekend is all about...

-= Centurion =-

You came to me

Like so many had before

Doomed to die

The crowd still shouting, "crucify!"

Crowned in thorns

Your wounded visage caught my eye

And looking past the blood I saw the love

The love that crowns and crucifies

(chorus)

And now I come to you

I plead the blood

I shed by my own hand

Father God, forgive me,

I knew not what I did

You left my whip

Beaten one lash short of death

Sadistically

I stripped your clothes and drove the nails

Darkness fell

My face turned pale, my blood ran cold

For dying on that cross I saw the Son

"My God, what have I done?"

(chorus)

Now I come to you

I plead the blood

I shed by my own hand

Father God, forgive me

I know well what I do

You rose again

Like no one had before

Victorious

Over Hades' deepest grave

Redemption dawns

As you roll the stone away

Now looking in your face I see the light

And on my knees I pray..

(chorus)

Now I come to you

I plead the blood

I shed by my own hand

Father God, forgive me

I know now what I did

Not The End

Fighting with Your Eyes Closed

"Walk by faith, and not by sight." - 2 Corinthians 5:7

I had an interesting experience last week during my martial arts class. I've been struggling to teach my body the "wind" style footwork required for most of the techniques found at my level. It's completely different from what I learned before, or at least it feels that way. I'm used to moving from my hips, but wind moves from the shoulders. I'm used to 45-degree angles, but that's water - wind is more about circular motion while receiving energy.

 Morpheus

Sensei says my problem is that I think about it too much instead of just doing it. My body knows what to do, he says, but my brain keeps getting in the way. I picture Morpheus during Neo's introduction to in-Matrix combat telling him to "stop trying to hit me and just hit me!"

To prove his point, he told me to do the technique with my eyes closed - a technique that begins with me getting kicked in the stomach!  That's crazy-talk, right? But, I figure there's a reason he's a sensei and I'm a student, so I gave it a shot.

I had to rely completely on sensing the energy of my opponent and waiting to feel the first sensations of the incoming kick, and then receive and redirect that energy. I had to know where my opponent was just by feeling it, and defeat him by moving into the right position relative to his, applying the technique, and all of this without the benefit of sight.

I felt the beginning of the kick on my abdomen, and began to move through the dark... And you know what? It worked! Sensei even said that was the best implementation of that technique he'd ever seen me do! Not only was it possible, but it actually worked better with my eyes closed and out of the way.

Now, for perhaps the first time, I understand the scripture I quoted above. Sometimes, we just have to close our metaphorical eyes and do what we know is right in the face of a challenge, purely on faith. This doesn't mean we do nothing and wait for divine intervention, but rather that we trust in what we've learned from the divine and apply it without being distracted by fear and an over-zealous need to analyze or be in control. At least try it ... you will probably be surprised at the results.