Luke Vassella talks about the process of writing his song 'Were You There' for the 2021 Common Grace Earth Overshoot Day Vigil, Monday 22nd March.
"When the folks at Common Grace asked if I’d like to sing a song for their online prayer vigil for Australia’s Earth Overshoot Day I was eager. The 22nd March 2021 date alarmed me though. Are we really living that far beyond our means? Have we exceeded the limits of a sustainable society that far? I remember hearing Sunday school teacher Bill Mckibbon talking about the dialogue at the end of the book of Job, where the Lord speaks out of a storm. A cranky God reminding Job and the rest of us of our place in the grand vision of creation. I used this perspective as I wrote the song. During the COVID-19 lockdowns which caused enormous disruption for many, our church fellowship migrated outside under the trees, avoiding the social distance limitations of being inside. We’ve stayed outside ever since and really enjoy being surrounded by lush green trees. I wanted to share that atmosphere in the video, but just before recording, a mini tornado or ‘microburst’ tore through the hinterland and made a mess of things. It also made a mess of the gorgeous North Coast vibe I was keen to show off. And from then on it kept raining. So in the end the song video was recorded inside. The plan disrupted, it required recalibration, re-evaluation and reimagining. For me the experience exemplified the whole point of Earth Overshoot Day. Like it or not, we are being interrupted, our world is being transformed and through it all God is speaking. Lord give us good ears to hear, good eyes to see, and the good sense to know who we are and what we are to do in these days."
You can view Luke Vassella's song 'Were You There' through the following link.
Were You There, Words & Music by Luke Vassella 2021
Were you there?
Were you there When the stars were flung into space
When there was darkness on the face of the deep
And did you weep At the birth of the galaxies
At the universe of possibilities
Brace yourself like a human being
And come to me I will question you and you will answer me
Were you there, how would you know?
Don’t you understand
How I love you so
Were you there?
Were you there, did you lay the earth’s foundation
With joy and jubilation at the scene
Or have you been
To the gates of the shadow of death
Though you are a mist, though you are a breath
Brace yourself like a human being
And come to me
I will question you and you will answer me
Were you there, how would you know
Don’t you understand
How I love you so
O brace yourselves though the earth give way
Brace yourselves though the mountains melt away
Kingdoms rise & fall, empires come and go
O my people be still....
Be still and know
Were you there
When the people gathered on the hillside
Did you hear their prayer....
Brace yourselves like human beings
And come to me I will question you and you will answer me
O my creation what have you become
O my people what have you done
Come back people, come back
- Song recorded live at Hinterland Chapel, Eureka NSW Monday 15th March 2021 -