Rainbows in Life

The last few weeks in Grant County have given us a variety of weather and heavenly sightings.  There has been snow in the higher elevations, cloudbursts of rain in the valley; cold enough weather to turn on the heater and hot enough weather to turn on the air conditioner, along with experiencing a current heat wave.  We've had a supermoon and multiple rainbows to view. All in all, life has not been boring in this part of rural Oregon.

Mt. Vernon Rainbow

To see the sky sliced with color is beautiful.  It is always refreshing to gaze upon a rainbow, which touches the earth from the sky or fashioned as a bow bridging heaven and earth. It is one of God's creative wonders which graces the sky in the midst of dark clouds and rain.  These moments of color usually occurs near the end of a storm.  An analogy can be given that when we experience storms in life, we receive personal rainbows with the colors of ...

- hope, for a brighter tomorrow

- faith, to believe the storm will pass

- fortitude, for courage to endure 

- wisdom, for greater insight

- strength, for resilience in pressure

- peace, in the absence of fear

- assurance, not alone through the storm

When you walk through a storm

Hold your head up high

And don't be afraid of the dark

(*see below for video clip information)

Thank you, Father of Lights, for being with us through all the storms that come and giving us rainbows to begin anew for fresh starts in life.

Scripturally,  there are several references to a rainbow.  It is significant, as God's covenant with Noah that mankind would not be destroyed by water again with a global flood. (Genesis 9)  Scripture also reveals to us that the rainbow is a symbol of Christ in Ezekiel 1:26-28.  In Revelation 4:2-3, John saw Christ clothed with a cloud and a rainbow on His head.... both symbolic of faithfulness and grace. 

Scientifically,  a simple explanation of how a rainbow is formed is a result of the play of light through droplets of water, with light refraction and reflection producing the rainbow.

The rainbow has been used as a sign of a new era and a symbol of peace, love, and freedom.   It also has had legends written about it.  I discovered this delightful  'Legend of the Rainbow', which is based on a Native American Legend.  It is profound in its simplicity of message.......

Once upon a time the colors of the world started to quarrel. All claimed that they were the best. The most important. The most useful. The favorite.

GREEN  said:   "Clearly I am the most important. I am the sign of life and of hope. I was chosen for grass, trees and leaves. Without me, all animals would die. Look over the countryside and you will see that I am in the majority."

BLUE  interrupted:   "You only think about the earth, but consider the sky and the sea. It is the water that is the basis of life and drawn up by the clouds from the deep sea. The sky gives space and peace and serenity. Without my peace, you would all be nothing."

YELLOW chuckled:  "You are all so serious. I bring laughter, gaiety, and warmth into the world. The sun is yellow, the moon is yellow, the stars are yellow. Every time you look at a sunflower, the whole world starts to smile. Without me there would be no fun."

ORANGE started next to blow her trumpet:   "I am the color of health and strength. I may be scarce, but I am precious for I serve the needs of human life. I carry the most important vitamins. Think of carrots, pumpkins, oranges, mangoes, and papayas. I don't hang around all the time, but when I fill the sky at sunrise or sunset, my beauty is so striking that no-one gives another thought to any of you."

RED could stand it no longer he shouted out:  "I am the ruler of all of you. I am blood - life's blood! I am the color of danger and of bravery. I am willing to fight for a cause. I bring fire into the blood. Without me, the earth would be as empty as the moon. I am the color of passion and of love, the red rose, the poinsettia and the poppy."

PURPLE rose up to his full height. He was very tall and spoke with great pomp:   "I am the color of royalty and power. Kings, chiefs, and bishops have always chosen me for I am the sign of authority and wisdom. People do not question me! They listen and obey."

Finally INDIGO  spoke, much more quietly than all the others, but with just as much determination: "Think of me. I am the color of silence. You hardly notice me, but without me you all become superficial. I represent thought and reflection, twilight and deep water. You need me for balance and contrast, for prayer and inner peace."

And so the colors went on boasting, each convinced of his or her own superiority. Their quarreling became louder and louder. Suddenly there was a startling flash of bright lightening, thunder rolled and boomed. RAIN started to pour down relentlessly. The colors crouched down in fear, drawing close to one another for comfort.

In the midst of the clamor, RAIN  began to speak:  "You foolish colors, fighting amongst yourselves, each trying to dominate the rest. Don't you know that you were each made for a special purpose, unique and different? Join hands with one another and come to me."  Doing as they were told, the colors united and joined hands.   The RAIN continued:
"From now on, when it rains, each of you will stretch across the sky in a great bow of color as a reminder that you can all live in peace. The RAINBOW  is a sign of hope for tomorrow."   And so, whenever a good rain washes the world and a Rainbow appears in the sky, let us remember to appreciate one another.   - a Native American Legend

  Photo taken by Kyle Sullivan on the Cheechako Ranch near Dayville, Oregon

(*) The beautiful video "You'll Never Walk Alone" presented in this message is by Giulia Zarantonello.  Susan Boyle is the artist singing this lovely song.  It was written and composed by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, commonly referred to as Rodgers & Hammerstein.
You can also view at:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jy-aVrTpC2s

Until next Monday, have a great weekend and may your days be filled with rainbows.