Big Sky

Kate Bush released a single in 1986 called “The Big Sky”. I don't think she wrote it in Africa but it's the only place I've ever been to where the sky is huge! (For any Kate Bush fans reading the blog who have half a song rattling round their head now click on the link below for the video that accompanied the single).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C88yb-OVNmw

This musical reflection was prompted by the 'sky at night' experience of taking a shower in Kosele. The rain is still being elusive. Earlier this afternoon all the signs pointed to an imminent downpour – wind, grey clouds, drop in temperature. Then- nothing. The sky cleared, the wind dropped and it was hot again. Looks like more hand watering in the sikuma wiki, (kale), patch in the morning.

The up side was an almost perfect shower this evening after our praise and worship time with the children. The heat of the day had taken the edge off the cold water, and the stars were amazing. It was like standing under an open heaven. Looking up at the sky in the northern hemisphere you never appreciate how many stars there are in the sky. Here, on the equator, you can understand why God used the number of stars as an encouragement for Abraham in the Old Testament.

(Genesis 15:5 “Then He brought him, [Abraham], outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars, if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”)

There aren't many experiences that make you realise it's impossible to count the stars, that the milky way is real and that all the constellations in the astronomy books actually exist. On a cloudless night, in the shower, under the Big African Sky you catch a glimpse of the infinite. It's awesome.