THE ARC OF HOPE

THE ARC OF HOPE



The rain fell hard and relentless, pelting my car with more water than my wipers could handle. I had half a notion to pull off the road and wait out the storm, but I put the wipers on high speed and kept going at a snail’s pace, hoping that I would not hit another car in the meantime.

Approaching the Nisqually flats, there was blue sky and the promise of an end to the unexpected storm. I looked across the delta and was caught short of breath..I gasped, my mouth gaping, my eyes unbelieving. There, stretching from one side of the delta to the other, in this amazing arch, was the most magnificent rainbow that I had ever seen. I could see the end and the beginning across the wetlands. And the colors! Oh, my, such unspeakable beauty! All seven colors were visible and individually identifiable---vivid hues of red, orange yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet, such an array of vibrant colors. Seven. God’s perfect number. I felt like I was privileged to something on the borderline of being Holy.

By now I had pulled over to the side of the road, attempting to get out of the traffic and to enjoy this most wonderful “gift” that was blazing before me. I wanted everyone to see what I was seeing. I sent a prayer upward, “Thank you!”.

I thought of Genesis 9:13 when God said to Noah, “I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.” I continued to gaze at this rainbow----this array of dazzling colors and light. How great is our God? In His Almightiness, He established the firmament—a visible covenant with man, using a rainbow to remind us of His promise that He would never again flood the earth. This awesome God of ours cares about us as much as He did for Noah so many years ago. This providential sign of his love and provision that He has for his people, showing us that, even in the midst of the storms He is always near." I am with you always even until the end of the age". Can we even begin to comprehend this promise?

From where I was standing, I thought of that promise and I knew that I could trust God with my life and I had the rainbow to show me the way. I caught my breath and retreated to the car . The experience left me numb, as if I had been struck unconscious and had suddenly woken up.

I knew that I would never again look at a rainbow in the same way. I was a changed person and I had God to thank for making that change in me..