Rainbow in the Carpet

November 23, 2020

 Scripture

Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured. …. Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?” (Hebrews 13:1-6 NRSV)

 Rainbow in the Carpet

On a recent afternoon on my commute from our kitchen to my study, I was stopped in my tracks by a glow in the carpet. It was a beautiful rainbow rectangle not much bigger than my foot. It gave me a moment of awe and wonder - a trick of the angle of sunlight coming from my study window to the hallway carpet.

Rainbows do that for us because even though ephemeral they offer the hint of promise and hope – “I will never leave you or forsake you”. We are in a marathon in which no finish line has been determined. This makes it hard to manage our resources of energy and emotion for the race. Yet our culture is more built for short bursts of engagement, not this marathon. It requires dealing with that which doesn’t get fixed quickly – and we don’t like it.

I’ve also been stopped in my tracks by stories emerging in Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Nicaragua as people struggle with the pandemic as one complicating factor amidst disaster, famine, war, homelessness, refugee crises. Foodbanks in our own country tell a tale to those of us in a privileged setting.

 Am I facing up to our restrictions with patient endurance and the needs around us with compassion and generosity? We are in this for the long haul and we don’t know how long the hauling will continue.

 A Prayer for Today

 O God, who walked with endurance through suffering on our behalf, walk with us in your compassion as we do grieve at loss and difficulties in our own loves. Expand our vision to include those whose pain is wider and deeper. Without diminishing our own losses help us persevere in cooperation with our communities and with compassion for those who need our help. …. For Jesus’ sake.