September 11 – “On clouds and rainbows”

For because she was renowned for her successes in battle and for her caring and gentle heart, the Queen was called upon to embark on a quest of her own, far away from the peaceful island where she now lived with family and friends and the one who loves her with all his heart.   So she set out on a quest that was rivaled by no other.  Her foe was bigger than any of those of the Yarrow And Ramtil Domain whom she had subdued with gentleness and perseverance.  This time her enemy was none other than Death himself.  No, not her own, for she most certainly would have shown determination and courage and faced him with incredible dignity.  She understood deep within her soul that the struggle with Death was not an occasion for unreasoning panic or for unrestrained fear or defeated resignation or debilitating depression.  No.  Instead this new foe was just another to be faced in the long and glorious Saga of Life.  The Timeless Tale of courageous questing that begins with childhood realizations about the journey and continues through the transition that looms ahead for all.  The Seamless Shift into the world of the Great One Who Rules Even Queens.   No, this was much worse.  For this was the impending Death Struggle of her own mother.  He had been stalking her for many years, and the toll of the formidable effort had finally begun to break her down.  And so the call came forth, and the good Queen answered with that kindness and grace and peace that had proven to ensnare so many before.    What a difference perepective makes.  On the way to Houston we hit a patch of rain.  A very brief patch.  But right before we did, Mom noticed the dark clouds and lightning off in the distance beyond her window.  On my side of the car, though, I saw a piece of a rainbow in between two clouds.  I pointed it out to her, and she totally forgot about the rest of the sky.  She was so focused on watching the rainbow.  This one was interesting.  It was very clear very near the dark clouds.  Then as it got closer to the bright, sunny part of the sky it got dimmer and dimmer and finally faded away into the brilliance of the blue.  Wow.  I watched as Mom's whole countenance changed when she saw the colors.    Great lesson.  The rainbow that is the Word of Christ can be brightest when circumstances are darkest.  It's harder to see at first, especially if you're looking in the wrong direction.  But when you locate it, and focus on it, it overwhelms all the darkness until all you can see is the incredible glow of His presence.   Hebrews 4:12-13 says, "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account."   Father, thank you for rainbows.  And … I guess … thanks for the clouds that make the rainbows so easy to see.  Amen.