I live in a country where it rains a lot. I mean... it seriously rains... a ...lot.
An awful lot!
Growing up in California, where it is daily 75 degrees and sunny, this can still be hard for me from time to time.
One thing I have learned in these 10+ years in this rainy land is---that with rain comes the opportunity for a rainbow! One never knows when it will come... but, with rain comes the hope. Without rain, rainbows aren't even a possibility!
I have a funny habit that has developed over the years. When it starts to rain, I go looking for the rainbow. Today, instinctively, when the downpour started, I ran to front window and then to the back window--- feeling like a child looking for Santa's sleigh in the sky.
At the back window, I could feel my heart drop just a bit. I was disappointed when no rainbow was found. But, ...then I had this inclination... this whisper in my heart... Just wait a minute.
So, I waited. A minute... such a short time. But, it took effort. Waiting is not easy for any of us.
Then it appeared.
The waited for... it appeared. My rainbow. It felt personal. Such a beautiful result of rain.
This rainbow doesn't distract from the reality that with rain comes mud--- oh! so much yuck, muck and mud. With rain comes mould, mildew, sickness, slippery walk ways and bone-chilling-cold--- oh! such deep cold. The rainbow doesn't take away from the 'yuck' that comes with so much rain.
The beauty found in any moment doesn't lessen the pain. But it adds to... It adds some joy to the equation. The equation now includes breath-taking, moving, dramatic skies, sound of rushing and pelting water, and green fields that stay green all year round. Reality is balanced by these moments of joy.
One small moment.
I could have missed it, if I hadn't gone looking for it.
Looking. And waiting. I waited in hope.
It's been a 'rainy' year--- this 2020, hasn't it? And, 2021... is deep in muck and mud. Our nightly news is bone-chilling with no end in sight.
Join me in looking for the shadows in the skies as an artist might look. Look for the green fields of strength and endurance in each other. Listen for the sounds of life amidst the pain. They are there. I promise.
Promise.
Let's look--- hope and wait for the rainbows. We have no promise they will come today. But, we can always hunt for them. Hunt and look with me, today, will you?
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Yep... I have written on this topic A LOT! Here... and here... I guess it's still impacting me today. Nothing new under the sun--- especially rainbows!