The past two sunny days in London I have been listening to the song Open Skies by the David Crowder Band.

Two weeks ago when I bought the cd Illuminate and listened to it for the first time, this was the song that grabbed me, particularly these words:

Praise Him under open skies
Everything breathing praising God
In the company of all who love the King

Next morning it just kept going round in my head.  On the train I was reading Colossians, but for some reason the words were not sinking in and I was getting bored.  I just got this feeling "turn to Psalm 150".  I don't think I had ever consciously read that psalm before.  Almost absent mindedly I flicked through to it and read the first bit:

"Hallelujah
Praise God in his holy house of worship
Praise him under the open skies
...
Let every living breathing creature praise God"

(from The Message translation)

and various other lyrics from the song were in psalm 148 and 149.

It was a tricky moment because my jaw just dropped and I wanted to shout, but I was on crowded train.

Actually the bit about it which gave me difficulty was not "did it really happen" but "why God, why do this, you know I believe, why show up in this way?"  There was something extravagant and intimate about it.  The most accurate way I can describe it is to say that it was like God coming onto that train and quietly taking hold of my hand and giving it a squeeze. 

I am holding onto that moment. 

Needless to say, that record is brilliant. 

===========================

Open Skies

Praise Him under open skies
Everything breathing praising God
In the company of all who love the King
I will dance, I will sing
It could be heavenly
Turn the music loud, lift my voice and shout
From where I am
From where I've been
He's been there with me
He's built a monument
His very people
So let his people
Sing, sing, sing

David Crowder Band - Illuminate (2003)