Although it happened over ten years ago, I remember clearly the first time my son, Sean, saw a rainbow. He was four years old at the time. We were driving south from Iowa to Missouri when we passed through a rainstorm into the sunshine. Looking out of the car windows, my husband and I spotted that arc of color that science tells us is the full spectrum of the sun’s white light refracted through the raindrops. We eagerly pointed the rainbow out to our son, who began to search the sky. After about a minute of Sean saying, “I can’t see it,” and my husband and I replying, “Just look out the window,” it occurred to us that he didn’t know what he was looking for.
Although he had seen pictures of rainbows in books, Sean had never seen a rainbow in the sky. With this realization, our frustration turned to patience as we helped him locate the colorful display. Suddenly, with a mixture of triumph and awe, Sean exclaimed, “I see it!”
In the ninth chapter of Genesis, we read about God choosing the rainbow as a sign of God’s covenant with Noah. As I reread this scripture passage, I am particularly struck by verse 12.
God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all generations.”
The relationship between God and humanity is intended for all. There is no specification of gender, race, sexual orientation or any other characteristic. God’s promise of faithfulness is extended to “every living creature”.
What would the world look like if we all lived as if every single one of us was a child of God? I imagine God guiding and encouraging us as we struggle to discern and live into God’s image of covenant. “Keep searching. Keep reaching.” Someday, there will be a shout of rejoicing when humanity is finally able to say, “We see it!”
~Sally Hoelscher