Can you see the rainbow?

I don’t know about you, but we are experiencing a lot a rainy weather lately. I arrived home the other day and the sun was shining on me, yet the rain was coming down on my car. It was almost like the cartoon where there is a storm cloud in just one spot. Life can feel like that sometimes. Then, there is a shift. What is it you ask? A rainbow, plain and simple.

Last night as I rounded the corner to get home, I looked up to see a beautiful rainbow that lasted several minutes. It stayed in my view the rest of my way home. With all the rain lately, I should have been hunting them, yet the sudden, unexpected appearance reminded me of God’s presence and to have hope.

The current weather pattern is mirroring my last few months, some rain, some clouds, a bunch of sunshine. What I have to remember is from the dark and stormy times can come joy and something new and unexpected. The sudden miracle of the conditions being just right to produce that rainbow in that exact spot reminds me that often I am rushing to the finish line. I wonder why something hasn’t happened yet when what I really need to do is just stop and appreciate the moment I am in.

Our lives are sprinkled with all sorts of joys and challenges. It’s really what we do with them that matters. What looks like an obstacle can be a blessing. What arrives as sadness and grief can turn into beautiful moments spent with people we love. An unexpected job loss or job offer can be the start of a much needed change.

The rainbows are there, we just forget to look. We get so wrapped up in our lives that we forget to look beyond ourselves and look up. God is always present, always looking out for us, even when we can’t see it.

Take a few minutes today and see if you can find the rainbows- the sudden appearance of beauty that makes you stop and remember God’s presence, love, and mercy in your life. When you do, you may discover something more precious than the leprechaun’s pot of gold.