On the morning of July 23, after several weeks without rain, we watched a beautiful rainbow arch against a blue sky between fluffy white clouds. There was no hint of rain in the air, yet the multi-colored bow in the sky was unmistakeable in its radiance.
How could there be a rainbow without rain?
Of course, there had to be moisture in the air. And we who live in the South feel the weight of humidity often; there is water in the air. It was humid that morning.
But, the light also had to shine through the water droplets at just the right angle - no higher than about 42 degrees of altitude. Ah, science can explain most of life’s mysteries. And when it comes to our health and the health of our earth, we had better listen to the experts.
My search about rainbows led me to a National Geographic site where I learned that rainbows actually form full circles, not bows. Because we can only see light reflected by raindrops above the horizon, we cannot see the rainbow’s lower, hidden half. Pilots and passengers in airplanes have testified to the full circle.
Continuing the mystery of the rainbow, each rainbow contain upward to a million colors, far more than the naked eye can see. And there are also moonbows which can be seen in tropical areas. They are rather faint because moonlight is so much dimmer than sunshine.
Most of us have marveled at double rainbows. My most memorable one to see occurred when my husband and I were newlyweds visiting White Sands National Park in New Mexico. It was late afternoon and even though we had appreciated a cooling shower during the driving tour, we had been duly impressed all day by the glistening waves of large dunes at the world’s largest gypsum field. We had stopped and climbed a dune.
As we reluctantly agreed that it was time to move on, we both looked up simultaneously and saw double rainbows spanning the sky in front of us. They looked as if we could travel in either direction across the sands and reach the ends. Of course, rationally we knew that was impossible; emotionally, it didn’t stop the longing to try.
However, National Geographic reports that tertiary (triple) and quaternary (quadruple) rainbows can also occur. Have you witnessed a triple or quadruple rainbow? I’m sad to say that I haven’t. But it doesn’t dampen my appreciation for the kaleidoscopic effect of variegated colors in the sky, whether I am witnessing one or multiple rainbows. Whenever I see a rainbow, I pause.
While we are grateful that science can explain so much of the natural world to us, there are times when the soul wants more than a rational explanation. Certainly, my thoughts turned to Genesis after the great flood. God speaks to Noah. “I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth…and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.” Genesis 9:13, 15 KJV.
For those of us who marvel at God’s handiwork in all of creation, the rainbow offers both a promise and a hope. And in these days of COVID-19, we long for promises and hope. Whenever I think of any small part of creation, I am once again amazed at the intricacy of each component. No one will ever convince me that a rainbow or any other natural phenomenon just happens because all of the conditions are right. Who made the conditions so that they could be right? Who made this world so that all the pieces fit together?
Of course, science can explain the fundamentals of all wonders. And man can too easily destroy much of what God has created. But, the human soul hungers for more.
When I hear folks talk about asking for a sign, then seeing one, I smile. If we ask for a particular sign at a particular place and time, we likely will be disappointed. That’s not the way of signs. They don’t come with our conditions. But they come; in fact, they are all around us at all times. The miracle comes when we stop to look and wonder and give thanks. Sometimes, they even appear without our asking. When we look, we see them. Let us remember to give thanks.
On the morning of July 24, the day after the rainbow, it rained. Thanks be to God.
2020