This Spring, my family had the good fortune to attend a night of worship in Hershey, PA featuring one of my church’s favorite Christian music artists, Chris Tomlin. Combined with special guest speaker, Passion founder Louie Giglio, I just knew it would be one of those can’t miss events. I had heard ahead of time that there was an opening act. Some band from Ireland (but not U2). Never heard of the group. But I’d gladly sit through their couple of songs to get to the meat of the event. It would be the polite thing to do. I mean, they couldn’t be that bad, right?
Once they appeared onstage, they were introduced as six young Irish guys and gals known as Rend Collective Experiment. Funny name for a band, I thought. But they proceeded to blow me away from the first note. What an unexpected treat! Their energy for Christ was contagious. You could feel His presence everywhere. Particularly in their renditon of the beautiful old hymn “Be Thou My Vision.” Or when the members slowly processed, carrying a full-sized cross through the arena as Chris Tomlin sang “Jesus Messiah.” And even as they joined Chris onstage for an encore and one of the members danced around using a metal trash can as a drum. That night, God was truly present everywhere, with everyone, and in everything. Even in the most unexpected of places: a trash can!
“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” – Psalm 139
Psalm 139 reminds us that there is no escaping God for He is everywhere and always. And why would we want to? Because of our own sins and shame? Our fears and shortcomings? Terrified that there is someone out there who knows us for who we truly are? Knows all our dark secrets and all our silly dreams? I’m reminded of a scene from the movie “The Count of Monte Cristo” where our hero, Edmond, lashes out “God? Can I never escape Him?” To which his love, Mercedes, calmly replies “No. He is in everything. Even in a kiss.” Poetic. And pretty darn romantic, too.
This summer I pray you will allow the warm breezes, the gentle rains, the blue sky, and the mixed sounds of birds and lawnmowers to soothe you in your leisure time. Know that whatever your life’s situation, God surrounds you constantly and will never let you go. He’s in the Psalms and He’s in a funny-sounding bunch of Irish kids. He’s in a kiss and He’s in a trash can. He’s in the most unexpected of things. And He’s in you. And that’s a good thing, because He is for us and, once we understand what that really means, nothing can stand against us and His good news. May your eyes be opened to the fact that God is here and He’s got no plans to go. Amen.
Check out this link for a video of the trash can in action! Our hero starts to really make his presence felt around the 3:00 mark. Enjoy!
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