Rainbows

From a very early age, most children get excited about seeing a rainbow.  I remember drawing rainbows in many of my elementary school pictures.  We think of hope when we see a rainbow.  We feel encouraged.  It is the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel.  It reminds us of the possible treasure that may be hidden at the end.The rainbow comes after the storm to encourage us that the storm won't last forever.

As a science teacher, I know that in order to have a rainbow you need water and sunlight.  With that knowledge, I am immediately swiveling my head like a Lazy Susan to find the rainbow as soon as I see the sun peek out beyond the rain-filled clouds.

I had that opportunity the other day.  My oldest and I were driving home in the car.  The clouds above us were as dark as night and had begun pelting us with torrential rain and hail.  We could see the blue sky.  It was almost above us!  We were anticipating the halting of the rain any second.  My head began it's swivel. There had to be a rainbow somewhere.  With this much water falling through through the atmosphere and and the bright sun almost blinding me, I could guarantee the presence of a rainbow. I found it.  It was behind me.  It was vivid and arched perfectly.  I recognized it.  Then I noticed something I hadn't before.  The rainbow's backdrop was the dark clouds.

A rainbow requires water and sunlight, but you will find the rainbow in the darkness.  The rainbows don't show themselves amid the blue sky like all children draw in their kindergarten pictures.  Rainbows are framed by the storm clouds, the darkness, the gloominess.  How perfect!  We would probably not enjoy the rainbow quite so much if it was situated in the perfect blue sky.  We celebrate it and point to it when it shines amidst the storm.

If we avoid the storm, we avoid the rainbow.  If we avoid the darkness, we miss the beauty.  If we avoid the pain, we miss the hope and joy and light that can only come from it.