I’ve never been much into Christian rock. I’m not opposed to it, and I enjoy when I hear it. I just don’t seek it out.

Yesterday my husband took me to Truro Episcopal in Fairfax where his longtime friend and Catholic singer Matt Maher was performing in a joint-faith event. Since they’re friends and since we used two of Matt’s songs in our wedding liturgy, I thought, “How fun.”

To say that it blew my socks off doesn’t do the concert justice. The energy, the faith and the praise heading toward heaven in these 90-minutes was an amazing thing to watch.

My husband asked if the concert was beyond my comfort level. I hesitated and said no, but he and I both know I’m never going to be one of the people who have both hands raised, eyes closed and swaying to the music while singing along.

I wouldn’t even raise a lighter at the end of a traditional rock concert and shout out a request for “Freebird” though.

I did have goose bumps, I got a little teary in parts and I was awestruck watching Matt’s effect on the full church.

You couldn’t help but join in, clapping hands, singing along with the words projected on the front walls, or responding to Matt’s constant urging to repeat the lyrics and be open to God.

Matt told the crowd if we only give God one hour a week, that isn’t much space to hear Him say that much to us.

He told the stories behind the songs he sang, mostly ones he’d written. How his focus initially had been on love songs between a man and a woman, and how his conversion refocused his words on God’s love.

Matt called the final frontier of Christianity the human heart and making it open to God. He talked about forgiveness, particularly forgiving ourselves.

His powerful voice, full of feeling, and his skill moving from the guitar to the piano with his three fellow band members, was quite the show.

If you missed him, Matt Maher (check out his web site) will perform at Arise (follow this link) at Catholic University Feb. 21.

Check him out, lighter not required.