Good is the flesh

Contrary to what so many of us were told so often ... the flesh is good!



Over at Christian Century www.christiancentury.org is a thought provoking article on bodily function from someone who is fast becoming one of my favourite authors, Barbara Brown Taylor. Her various collections of sermons are solid nourishment for those who have to 'serve up' every Sunday. And this comes from her latest offering (just ordered it now) An Altar in the World.

Read the article ... its good stuff on incarnational life but incase you don't here's a great hymn I'd not previosuly know that she quotes from Brian Wren ... (although given what can happen with me and church and introducing new songs that challenge us to think as we sing, I might wait a week or two just yet.

Good is the flesh that the Word has become,
good is the birthing, the milk in the breast,
good is the feeding, caressing and rest,
good is the body for knowing the world,
Good is the flesh that the Word has become.

Good is the body for knowing the world,
sensing the sunlight, the tug of the ground,
feeling, perceiving, within and around,
good is the body, from cradle to grave,
Good is the flesh that the Word has become.

Good is the body, from cradle to grave,
growing and ageing, arousing, impaired,
happy in clothing, or lovingly bared,
good is the pleasure of God in our flesh.
Good is the flesh that the Word has become.

Good is the pleasure of God in our flesh,
longing in all, as in Jesus, to dwell,
glad of embracing, and tasting, and smell,
good is the body, for good and for God,
Good is the flesh that the Word has become.


I love it.