After spending a ridiculous amount of time looking at either my computer screen or phone display on this rainy Thursday, I looked up and realized that the sun had come out and that a dull pain was developing behind my eyes. It was time to disconnect.
I looked at the trees, most still full of pink and white springtime blossoms. I saw pink tulips and yellow buttercups, little purple wild flowers and lots of green grass. I beheld the bright blue sky above the grey clouds passing over snow capped mountains, all of which were made brighter and more brilliant by the golden intensity of the setting sun. How had I not noticed this before?! I watched as the sun gradually lowered itself behind a distant cloud and stood in awe at how the rays of light seemed to outline the dark clouds just perfectly.
I have since pondered on the words of that dear primary hymn which has taken on new meaning. I realized that the rainbows we look for after rain aren't just those beams of light caught in the prism of falling rain drops, but the light of the sun as it pierces the now clean air to illuminate and accentuate the colors around us. It is also the light of the Son as He enters our clean souls after repentance and baptism, adding to and magnifying our divine nature and potential.
I plugged my phone in to charge, grabbed my keys, my sweater and some graham crackers and headed out the door for some much needed "sanctuary" time. As I walked I felt a sense of pride that I could leave my phone and computer and essentially all my worries behind after what has seemed like a month of nothing but constant movement, thought, and worry. My walk reminded me of Pres. Thomas S. Monson's recent plea, "In this fast-paced life, do we ever pause for moments of meditation—even thoughts of timeless truths?"
Remembering the endless rain that poured down just this morning, the threatening thunder and even the anxious power outage I experienced while teaching today, I looked around me at the pristine mountains behind and the thin strip of light that was the lake ahead of me and was reminded of the Primary hymn, "When I am Baptized".
"I love to look for rainbows whenever there is rain.
And ponder on the beauty of the Earth made clean again.
I want my life to be as clean as Earth right after rain;
I want to be the best I can and live with God again."
As I looked around I thought, "Well, that stinks, there aren't any rainbows around here." And I continued my walk thinking about other things.
As I turned to head towards home after twenty or so minutes, I was struck again, by the beauty of my surroundings. The song entered again and again I searched for a rainbow. To my surprise I noticed something I missed the first time around. Rainbows were everywhere!
I looked at the trees, most still full of pink and white springtime blossoms. I saw pink tulips and yellow buttercups, little purple wild flowers and lots of green grass. I beheld the bright blue sky above the grey clouds passing over snow capped mountains, all of which were made brighter and more brilliant by the golden intensity of the setting sun. How had I not noticed this before?! I watched as the sun gradually lowered itself behind a distant cloud and stood in awe at how the rays of light seemed to outline the dark clouds just perfectly.
I know this is a true principle. I have seen it work in my life and in the lives of those around me. When we live our lives "as clean as the Earth right after rain", the Lord makes more of us than we could ever make of ourselves. He intensifies our efforts, enhances our desires for good, and strengthens us to endure future storms. And right when we think we can no longer bear our trials, the sun/Son parts the clouds and His bright white light breaks through showing us rainbows of hope all around.
Genesis 9:8-17, Psalms 27:1
