Things that remind me of God

Tonight we had the privelege to attend the LaSalle Bank Do-It-Yourself Messiah, a free concert donated by the bank as its' Christmas gift to Chicago. It is a two-night series of Handel's Messiah, sung by audience members at the Lyric Opera house in downtown Chicago. Not only is the venue stunning, the music is inspiring and moving. They have a full orchestra, professional singers leading each vocal part (and singing the solos), and the audience seats themselves according to the part they sing (we were non-comformists and just sat together). I attended this event several years ago when Steven and I were dating and loved it. Its the kind of thing that gives me goosebumps in my jaw just near my ear...
Handel's Messiah is hands-down my favorite piece of classical music. Handel wrote it in the 1700's in a mere 25 days. I was reminded again of the impressive and technically challenging nature of this piece, not only for the orchestra, but the singers. I was lost multiple times during this evening. As a former violin player, the music is almost impossible to play successfully! Tonight I was reminded at the beauty and truth of the lyrics as well. As we sang the Hallelujah chorus with 3,000 others, I got tears in my eyes as I received a glimpse of who God is in the music. It was breathtaking. "Hallelujah, for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. The kingdom of this world is become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Hallelujah!" and then a soprano aria "I know that my redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall see God...Since by man came death, by man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. Behold, I tell you a mystery: we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet." I could go on and on about the beauty and truth of the words...but I must retire to bed. It has encouraged my soul and renewed my hope in the goodness of God.
These are other things remind me of God: the miracle and mystery of human birth, the splendor of mountains, encouraging words from a friend spoken at just the right time in just the right way, O Holy Night sung at a candlelight service...for now I must stop at this.