Look for the Rainbow
The weekend was all the best that south coast BC has to offer. Sunshine with a light breeze, food out in the backyard, the propane fire offering warmth as the cool of evening set in. Big floppy hats were worn and sunscreen applied.
Over the course of Monday, however, there was a shift in the air. A splattering of rain now and again, the wind picked up, and by evening there was a heavy rain fall. I remarked to my brother on the phone that we had a “the best kind of rain shower.” Having memories of enduring Vancouver drizzle in past years, he asked what defined “the best kind” in my mind. My response: it was the kind of rain I could hear through closed windows inside my house. Big, fat, soak the earth, and then be done kin of rain shower. (I have a lot of thoughts on rain... if you haven’t had a chance to read them, you can find them here.)
Today as we drove to deliver an almost-birthday surprise to my eldest sister, we encountered the magical mixture of dark rain clouds in blue skies with evidence of the sun all around us. With the windshield wipers whoosh-whooshing back and forth I said to Elizabeth, “Look for the rainbows!”
Even as the words left my mouth I knew I had to speak those same words to my heart.
Look for the rainbows, weary one.
Scientifically, the rainbow is created when light from the sun enters a water droplet, slows down, and bends as it moves from air into denser water. The light then reflects off the inside of the droplet, separating into the different colours based on their wavelength. As the light exits the raindrop, split into its colours, a rainbow is formed. It is a fascinating display of physics and chemistry.
If you’re Irish, the rainbow is good luck and one should hunt for the pot of gold at the end. (In our house, the “Pot of Gold” a was always a box of chocolates sent by relatives at Christmas...)
Biblically, the rainbow is the sign of the covenant God made with Noah, with every living creature, and with all future generations. It is a reminder of his promise to never again flood the earth and bring such destruction as was seen. Instead of nearly wiping out all of the human race to rid the world of evil, he would instead offer a way towards reconciliation. Some time ago I heard someone paint the following picture: that after aiming his wrath at the world, God turned the bow towards the sky and pointed the arrow to the heart of His Son. The rainbow would make way for the cross.
And so, rainbows have come to represent hope. That even when we are under the darkest of rain clouds of life, we see the Son breaking through and have hope that this till shall pass. He has made a way.
My sister Catherine and I used to love the song “Testify to Love” by Avalon as teens. Some of the lyrics are as follows:
All the colors of the rainbow,
All the voices of the wind;
Every dream that reaches out,
That reaches out to find where love begins;
Every word of every story,
Every star in every sky,
Every corner of creation lives to testify
For as long as I shall live,
I will testify to love.
I'll be a witness in the silences
When words are not enough.
With every breath I take,
I will give thanks to God above.
For as long as I shall live,
I will testify to love.
And so as I drove and began looking for the rainbows in my life, I spoke to my heart the many promises God has given to us. I could see evidence of His love around every corner, bursting through every dark cloud. He promises to never leave or abandon us (Psalm 73:21-28), to give us a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:1-19), to forgive our sins (Ephesians 1:7-8), to give us peace and rest (Matthew 11:28-30), to give us abundant and eternal life (Psalm 16:11), to be with us always (Matthew 28:16-20), to bring goodness form every broken and twisted thing (Revelation 21:1-7). I just beginning to dip into a well of truth here that is very deep.
I was left with this thought: my life is a testimony of His unending love. And just as a rainbow proclaims His love over us, so too will I, for as long as I shall live, proclaim His love.
Look for the rainbows, loved one.