Chasing Double Rainbow Blessings 2

The weird thing about the three rainbow photos I have posted on this site is that they were taken on two separate days, this one being taken on the second day. Amazingly enough, they were taken outside my back sliding glass door just past my backyard above the field in back of our house. These rainbows were miraculous to me in that they appeared nearly in the exact spot two days in a row, having proof of the dates on my handy-dandy little digital camera. Furthermore, it was the closest I have ever been to a rainbow, let alone a double rainbow, in my entire life. As time progressed while I sat and watched them, they kept getting closer to me. When one came closer, its effect on me was even more profound because, while I lived in Oregon--though it rains in the Willamette Valley for what seems like nearly nine months a year--I never saw anything so spectacular as I have here in the rolling hills of the central plains.

 

The next week, I had a hair appointment with my stylist, and I told her about the strange event. She remembered the rainbow on the 11th of June but not on the 10th. This particular one was from the 10th, both being so large they could have been seen by everyone in the city if outside. I told her the really cool thing was that I previously had been wandering around Flickr and found a picture of a spectacular rainbow like this one that a woman had taken a picture of from her backyard. I thought, at the time, how wonderful for her to have such things happen right in her backyard. I was happy for her but sad for me. Then there I was enjoying the same things, God never being a respecter of persons.

 

Anyway, my hair-stylist asked me if I had ever tried to chase a rainbow before. Of course I said, no, since I had hardly ever seen one. She said she had...she had actually jumped out of her car when she was younger and tried to chase one down til she became so exhausted that she quit. She found no matter how SHE TRIED to get closer to the rainbow, though chasing after it with all her might, it astonishingly seemed to keep its distance...the proverbial pot of gold at the end of the rainbow comes to mind like fool's gold.

 

As I mused over it, I was reminded that a full bow, not just half, surrounds God's throne, according to Revelation 4:3: "And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne (NIV)." The allegory/metaphor/parable (which the Lord speaks fluently in and so must His followers if they desire to get to know Him which begins upon repentance and accepting Jesus) here is this: The more we chase after Him in and of ourselves/by our own might, ending up with us being steeped in works and legalism, the more He seems to keep his distance because the more glaring our inadequacies become in trying to reach Him on our own. But if we just sit back and enjoy Him and the wonder that is Him, the more He'll draw close to us just as this rainbow did me while I was merely sitting and enjoying it's amazing beauty on my backdoor stoop, worshiping the Lord through it all.

 

Once the Lord comes close to us after we stop chasing Him, we get to see Him for who He really is in all of His varied colors of goodness, salvation (mercy and grace/water), righteousness (blood), holiness (breath), redemption (circumcision, manna, and love), fire, and wind. As a result of these many parts of the baptism, we are being doubly blessed by His presence always as His luminescent colors echo like a double rainbow through to our innermost being for all eternity. Though some low-flying clouds may from time-to-time obscure our view of Him in this magnificent vibrant light, Jesus still manages to come shining through in all His glory when we rest in His abilities to meet His standards and make Him our Sabbath instead of trying to keep it ourselves.

 

The most mind-blowing thing of it all was that, as I did my devotions the next day, I read this passage in Isaiah 54:9-10:

 

"To me this is like the days of Noah,

when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth.

So now I have sworn not to be angry with you,

never to rebuke you again.

 

Though the mountains be shaken

and the hills be removed,

yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken

nor my covenant of peace be removed,"

says the LORD, who has compassion on you. (NIV)

 

I took this passage along with the new covenant He forged with Noah after the flood, as evidenced by the rainbow He set in the skies at the time, to have to do metaphorically with the new covenant of grace (many parts to it like the rainbow's colors though one whole) with Him through Jesus instead of trying to keep the old covenant of works. As the metaphor coalesced for me while viewing these awesome rainbows, I felt His Presence drawing closer to me and enjoyed a revival of His incredible love within me...as I hope the viewer will, also.

 

© 6-10-2009 Victoria Tribby

victoriatribby@yahoo.com

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

If you'd like to see the video footage of the first day of this rainbow occurring as is in this picture above, go here:

www.flickr.com/photos/13724386@N08/3842327834/

 

If you would like to see the video footage of this rainbow happening in front of me on the second day in a row, please go here:

www.flickr.com/photos/13724386@N08/3841535877/

 

Sorry about the low quality in both videos. It was recorded at a much smaller size than what is shown here, and rain kept getting on the lens. The rainbows really were much more incredible and awesome to see in person than what the video footage or digital camera captured. Just chalk it up to my inexperience in photography. *Smiles*

 

Note: It appears that during this season where we live, there has been an incredible amount of rain. As a result, we have been blessed with about two rainbows a week here off from our back yard. Praise the Lord! I am so astounded and amazed at God's beauty and grace.

Done