Rainbows

♪There’s a rainbow ‘round my shoulder
And a sky of blue above
The sun shines bright, the world’s all right
‘Cuz I’m in love ♪
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- Al Jolson, Billy Rose & Dave Dreyer
 
My first memory of a rainbow was seeing one outside my bedroom window when I was very young. Excitedly, I grabbed my camera and took a picture of it. On discovering the photo many years later, I was amused to see it was in black and white!
 
I have always loved rainbows. Growing up, I expect my love began with the story of Noah and the flood in the Bible where the rainbow appeared as God’s intention never to destroy the earth again. Because of that, I’ve always felt rainbows were a promise of new beginnings and affirmations of hope and trust.
 
It’s wonderful that the rainbow is a symbol for the LGBTQIA+ community, and it saddens me that there are people who choose to ascribe negativity to it. I believe the positive energy a rainbow represents will always outshine the negative.
 
The lyrics above are just one set from a number of songs that mention rainbows. Somewhere Over the Rainbow from the Wizard of Oz, and The Rainbow Connection from the Muppets, are quite well known. And there are dozens of songs that include rainbows in the lyrics. People who know me will not be surprised to learn one of my favourites is by George Harrison, Blow Away:
 
♪Wind blew in, cloud was dispersed
Rainbows appearing, the passions were burst
Breezes are singing, now feeling good
Moment had passed like I knew that it should♪
 
There is something about a rainbow – something joyous and loving; something to trust. The rainbow reminds us it is waiting at the other side of a storm – to lift us up and light our way.
 
“It shall be when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud.” - Genesis 9:14 – New King James Version
 
Nancy Sandoval
Unity Licensed Unity Teacher

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