Perhaps one of the greatest recognizable symbols of hope is the rainbow. What happens when you see a rainbow? Invariably you point, smile and exclaim, “it’s a rainbow!” The darker and more pronounced it is, the more time we spend remarking of its beauty and allure. We often try to follow the rainbow and try to track it in the sky. To where does it lead? How long will it last? What a mesmerizing sight! Still, why do we think of it as a symbol of hope?
From the beginning, we have known that story in Genesis where the earth was plagued with an unspeakable storm. Rain covered the earth and left destruction in its path. Following its wrath, God spoke to Noah and made a covenant effective for every human being and creature. He promised He would never destroy all living creatures by a flood again. That promise He left was symbolized by a rainbow in the sky. That is a huge promise and hope! In times like these, we need hope and a wonderful symbol of hope.
Did you know that rainbows have over 1 million colors that we cannot distinguish? The human eye can only see seven of those colors. They are: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. This transcendent presence of a rainbow has affected many people around the world differently.
The Japanese believed that rainbows made it possible for their ancestors to come back to earth. The Navajo believed that a rainbow was the path for good spirits. The pot of gold at the end of a rainbow, came from an old Irish legend. No matter how one interprets the presence of a rainbow, it usually always leads to hope and the promise of something good.
Over the past pandemic-filled year, we needed hope. Some hope has come in the form of a vaccine. We have all done our very best to weather the COVID-19 storm. Many have already seen that rainbow when the vaccine was announced and better yet, arrived at their doorstep! Now we have a rainbow. It is a rainbow of hope that many things will be getting better in the days ahead. As you go about serving our seniors, please remember that promise of love-based hope! You are helping others see rainbows every day!
Georgene Connelly
MASWA President
