Daily Scripture Reading: Psalm 42; Isaiah 29:17-24; Acts 5:12-16

One day my five-year-old daughter, Hazel, and I were on Highway 25 on the way back to Jackson around 2 o’clock in the afternoon. We stopped at a gas station for a quick rest stop and to get a snack. As we walked out of the station to get back into the car, the skies were dark, overcast with low, charcoal gray clouds. It looked like someone had dimmed the lights; and the scary music was implied. Clearly a storm was coming, which was quite a surprise because when we had gone into the gas station, the skies looked pretty harmless and the sun was out.

Hazel and I were talking about the skies and the coming storm. As we pulled back out onto the highway, I said to Hazel, “Sometimes when the skies look like this, you can see a rainbow.” I drove the car to the median and stopped completely, so we could look around in the hopes of doing just that. All I can say is the Lord was purely showing off that day. That rainbow was magnificent, seriously stunning. I could see the red, orange, yellow, blue, indigo and violet so vividly. Usually, I consider myself lucky to see a glimpse or small stripe of a rainbow, but this one was fat and completely full. It seemed like I could see the entire semi-circle and the only things missing were a couple of dancing Leprechauns and a pot of gold.

Hazel and I just sat there for a few minutes soaking in the beauty. I’m not sure who was more amazed, but I’m pretty sure it was me. I couldn’t help but think that we almost missed that spectacular rainbow performance. All the right things had to take place at the right time:

•   the two of us in the car

•   stopping at that moment

•   the clouds

•   the correct sunshine/cloud combo

•   the willingness to stop (For me this is more rare than the Leprechauns.)

•   the willingness to look for something that might be there

  This rainbow performance makes me wonder what other gifts from God I have missed because I didn’t stop, slow down and look for His light among the dark. Most likely, had Hazel not been with me, I would not have stopped on that day either. This small event in my life or the most world changing event like the birth of Christ continues to teach me that God’s light is present in this world; we just have to look for it. Especially when the clouds are darkest and hope seems dim, I’m praying for all of us to stop, turn around, and see the gifts He is providing.

  Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life." -John 8:12

  —Amanda Box