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Listen to the Rainbow

Another random musing from Jim, penned a couple of
decades ago

“Let’s take Sunday off church and get on with all those jobs that
have been left undone for so many weeks.” It seemed like a good idea -
that is, until Sunday arrived. Many of the undone jobs were in the
garden, so first thing Sunday morning I woke with one of those dull
headaches that you know will last until bedtime. Also, it rained. Was this
a ‘punishment’ for missing church - just once in a while. It did seem like
it. The plans for the garden were shelved until the weather cleared up,
hopefully, later in the day.

Then the washing machine broke down, so a frustrating time was spent
attempting to coax it back to life. I really should have gone to church!

Tea time came and at 6.50 pm the dog politely reminded me it was time
for his walk. I pretended that I did not hear. His reminders came at
regular intervals until his threats of physical violence, if I did not take
him, could not be ignored.

We left the house, and had not gone more than 200 yards when it
started to rain. A dilemma - do I continue and get wet or return and risk
being shouted at by the dog? I’m not that brave - we continued. As the
rain fell harder I took shelter under a tree which was conveniently
shaped like an umbrella. From my shelter I could see over the bay. The
sun was shining brilliantly, and soon I was able to watch a rainbow, a full
semicircle, gradually appear. With the sun on my back I watched as this
magnificent spectacle in the sky. The smell of wet grass, the sound of
cows munching grass a few feet away, the birds singing in anticipation of
juicy worms brought to the surface by the rain. All this, added to the
sound of the raindrops hissing through the branches, was quite
magical.

The rain stopped - but the rainbow continued for another ten minutes or
so.

So, where is the moral to this story? I don’t know; make of it what you
will. But for the first time that day my headache disappeared and I truly
marvelled at the wonder of God’s nature which I have so often taken for
granted.

Jim

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