Be the Rainbow in Someone's Cloud - The Dove Challenge!

During a long drive, my best friend, Candi, and I were enjoying a little treat in the midst of a very challenging summer and were popping Dove chocolates one after the other.  We were using them as tasty stress relievers, and believe it or not, it worked!  As we were nibbling, we noticed the quotes, and began reading them aloud, saying, “Some of these would make great sermon titles!” and right then and there, the Fall Sermon Writing Challenge was born.  We took a photograph of five different wrappers, and threw down the gauntlet towards one another.  While she is a pastor and preaches every single Sunday, I am not, so I agreed to write a blog post each week using a Dove wrapper quote to guide my writing, and she would use the same one to craft her sermon for that Sunday.

Interestingly, the Sunday we had first agreed on for our challenge, as well as the last one, were Sunday's that I was unexpectedly called on to preach...the sort of Divine Coincidence that couldn't have been manipulated into being if we had tried.  I love these delightful coincidences!  Our first week was titled, "The Magic is in the Mess" and was so much fun to write, because you ask yourself, "How can I take a trite, pithy quote and turn it into something deeper and more meaningful?" 

Our second wrapper of chocolaty goodness had the quote, "Be the Rainbow in Someone's Cloud"...hmmm...how do we think about this one from a more theological perspective?  I have been pondering this one all week, and just today realized that there, within this little quote, really we find something quite profound.  Sure, there is the sweet meaning of brightening someone's day, but we are called on to do far more than that.

People view the rainbow in a variety of ways and often derive great meaning from it.  There has long been a spiritual symbolism to the image of the swathe of

color:  the fanciful fables of leprechaun's and overflowing pots of gold, a close encounter with the spirit (whatever that spirit may be for any individual), it can be understood to be a sign of hope, and the colors as chakras are thought to be the energy centers through which healing can be called upon.  The double rainbow is even more mystical, with plenty of people believing it is a sign of great good fortune heading their way! 

Even those who are secular or atheist know the Biblical story, if not the theology, of Noah and the Ark.  Here is the actual Scripture passage, if you would be so kind as to wade through it quickly for me:  And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come:  I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.  Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds,  I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.” (NIV)

Now, if you ask your friends or family, what the rainbow means theologically speaking, most would reply something along the lines of this:

"It is God's promise to mankind to never flood the earth again."

And they would be correct!  But wait...there's more. 

This isn't just about a promise God makes to the people of God, it is very clearly stated that the rainbow will serve to remind God of the promise made!  That lovely prismatic arc we all pause to ooh and ahh over wasn't really intended for us to know and trust in the promise, though it does serve that purpose, but instead it was meant as a reminder to God!  Check the language again, as God speaks, "Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds,  I will remember my covenant between me and you..." and "I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant..."

God initiates the covenant, and then creates a symbol as a reminder not as much for us, but for God.  This is important, as the wording could have easily been about "a promise to you, my people" which a covenant indeed is, but God wanted to be reminded...to never forget...to ensure that not only could we trust in the covenant, but that God would have a tangible reminder of the promise made...of the damage wrought...of the death of so many living things.  Our Creator wanted a concrete and visible reminder to never be the Destroyer in that all-encompassing way again!

I bet you never thought about God needing a reminder to be good, did you?  And yet, this is the perfect example for us, as we are made in the image of God, and know we need regular reminders in all kinds of forms to be creators and not destroyers.

Being a "rainbow in someone's cloud" is about far more than casually bringing a little sunshine to someone who is having a rough time.  It is not that easy, nor is it in the least casual.  Being the rainbow in someone's cloud requires a commitment from us, and the willingness to accept and respond to reminders of that commitment.  If we are to follow in God's example, that call to be a rainbow is for a lifetime, it is asking of us to be actively and regularly faithful to our promises to others to be there for them!!  After all, God isn't a fair-weather presence, and the covenant with us is "...for all generations to come." Therefore, we can't just occasionally decide to live into our own rainbow covenant with others, but we must do so for always.

And it is about being a creator of another kind, rather than a destroyer in the lives we touch.  We are the bringers of practical help as we feed and clothe those around us in need, as we are encouragers of change when needed with addictions or behaviors that are damaging, and as we offer love and hope to all, regardless of how different from us they may be.  After all, God's rainbow promise didn't have any caveat's, and neither should ours.  God didn't say, "Well, if y'all are good and don't anger me, I will covenant with you to never flood you out again."  Rather, it was stated unequivocally, without reservation..."for all generations to come." 

As this past week was the anniversary of September 11th, there were calls throughout America to "Never Forget".  Images that are far less colorful and far more painful than the beauty of a rainbow were posted throughout social media, in public places, and were part of newscasts as memories were shared.  The twin towers were the replacement for the rainbow, each reaching out heavenward until they collapsed horrifyingly to the ground.  How can any of us forget that image?  Those who were presented were impacted in ways we can't fathom, and the rest of America watched in complete and utter disbelief.

Never forget...but what is it that we are never to forget? 

Is it that we ought to always remember our enemy who attacked us? 

Are we to always remember the tragedy of destruction and loss of life?

Or perhaps, as we are shown by example from the God we claim to follow and who also wanted a tangible reminder, maybe we are to remember that we should vehemently reject being destroyers of "every living creature" for "all generations to come."  Oh, I know, that seems simplistic, it seems pacifist, it seems totally ridiculous to those who seek an eye for an eye, who truly believe that there is a time and a place where destruction is necessary.  I understand this, and will never say my own understandings or perspectives are "the" right ones.  But I think that it is worthy of consideration, that we thoughtfully, humbly look to the reminders we call upon to help us be creators and not destroyers. 

After all, if God needs an iconic reminder to be a creator and not a destroyer, I don't think it is too far of a reach to say we mere humans might need that same reminder, too.

So, go be a rainbow in someone's cloud, and never forget, that rainbow is really more about calling yourself into account than it is about being a part-time do-gooder.  It is far, far more intentional and deliberate than that.  Being that rainbow is about keeping a promise to yourself, just as much as it is about keeping a promise to others.