Pesach 5769

Two years ago, I never would have imagined myself doing what I did
last night and in preparation for last night.

Last year, I thought it was possibly somthing I might do in the
future. But I never would have imagined that I could accomplish it
only a year later.

This year, my friend hosted a Seder. It was my first one in a home;
last year, I went to the one at the synagogue. There is a lot that
goes into putting a Seder together, and she did a fantastic job. The
food was amazing, the group was pretty ecclectic, and I think it was a
successful night.

One task that comes with Seder preparations is choosing a haggadah.
She invited me to help her with that. It was a nerdy honor. When she
asked, I was daunted. I had never really read a haggadah the whole way
through. I couldn't tell you what needed to happen. But I read and I
learned. And I basically copied a haggadah I found on the Internet.

Let me tell you, I feel much more connected to the Seder now. For
someone who loves the Exodus story, that's probably a good thing.

One of the only parts of the text that I actually wrote was the bit
about Miriam's Cup. Which is why I've been thinking a lot about
Miriam's role in the story. About how she not only hoped for a better
day; she believed it would come. And Miriam's Song, what it sounded
like, what else was in it.

When I left the seder last night, I was listening to a Jewel CD, and
the song "Life Uncommon" came on. I don't know what she wrote it about
exactly, but it fits in well with Miriam and that moment (even if it
fits a bit better with the Midrashic story about her first
prophecies). A big part of the connection comes from our haggadah's
emphasis on social justice and being instruments of change, but I
think it works.

The lyrics:
Don't worry mother, it'll be all right
Don't worry sister, say your prayers and sleep tight.
It'll be fine, lover of mine
It'll be just fine

And lend your voices only to sounds of freedom
No longer lend your strength to that which you wish to be free from
Fill your lives with love and bravery
And you shall lead a life uncommon.

I've heard your anguish, I've heard your hearts cry out
"We are tired, we are weary, but we aren't worn out"
Set down your chains, 'till only faith remains
Set down your chains

And lend your voices only to sounds of freedom
No longer lend your strength to that which you wish to be free from
Fill your lives with love and bravery
And you shall lead a life uncommon

There are plenty of people who pray for peace,
But if praying were enough, it would have come to be
Let your words enslave no one,
And the heavens will hush themselves to hear
Our voices ring out clear with sounds of freedom
With sounds of freedom

Come on, you unbelievers, move out of the way
There is a new army coming, and we are armed with faith
To live, we must give, to live

And lend our voices only to sounds of freedom
No longer lend our strength to that which we wish to be free from
Fill our lives with love and bravery
And we shall lead
And lend our voices only to sounds of freedom
Fill our lives with love and bravery
And we shall lead a life uncommon.