Numbers 6:24-26

This afternoon my sweet daughter-in-love, Jackie called to see if I wanted to go to TJ Maxx with her. Well, I enjoy shopping almost as much as I adore root canals with faulty Novocaine, but I thought maybe I could find some more clothes for walking in the mornings so I went.

We finished our shopping and stepped into the parking lot to see the weirdest looking clouds and dark, dark skies I'd seen in ages.

This picture doesn't even begin to capture how weird looking this sky was -- I was so alarmed I called my parents' house to see if there were any warnings posted for Montgomery, or anywhere around Montgomery.

Jackie and I continued to home, and then she asked if I wanted to stop at the grocery. Well, I did need to do some light larder filling stuff, but the weather was getting increasingly scary looking, and I just wasn't thrilled by the idea.

Shortly after I took this picture, though, we both began to think that we'd rather be out of the car, and it was closer to get to Publix than to get to my house. The wind was kickin' up, and the bottom dropped out as we were getting out of her car. We proceeded to do our shopping, taking our time waiting on the storm to pass. (Weird moment was hearing the very loud thunder outside, and then hearing the ersatz "ooh - we're fixin' to squirt water on the produce" recorded thunder in the veggie section.)

Anyway, we headed out -- it was still raining but not scary raining, and as Jackie got us to the edge of the parking lot we notice a rainbow -- and not just ANY rainbow -- but a complete one. The sky behind it was still quite dark, but the sun had broken through behind us at a perfect angle, and it was the most vivid rainbow I have ever seen in my life. We were both so struck by the beauty Jackie stopped her car in the middle of the Walgreen's parking lot so we could snap photos.

You'll notice in the bottom picture that things are blurry -- and here's why. My hand was shaking something fierce -- because not only was this a complete, and remarkably brilliant rainbow -- but if you will look REALLY hard just to the right of the perfect arch, you can (I hope) see that a SECOND rainbow emerged while we were sitting there. It was much less vivid, but it was also complete.

I have never, ever, seen such a thing in my life, and I am at a loss for words to express how incredible this moment was.

I couldn't help but think that had Jackie not had an urge to go to TJ Maxx, had I not agreed reluctantly to go, had we not been frightened of the approaching storm and come to my house instead of to the grocery -- we both would have missed this moment.

This glorious moment made me think about the hundreds of little decisions we make every day, and how if we really paid attention we would truly understand how fragile even the most mundane days of our lives are. How many beautiful things have we missed seeing, or hearing, or feeling, or doing, because of what seemed an inconsequential decision? How many amazing things have we been witness to for that same reason?

But here's the thing -- even if Jackie and I decided to turn left (to my house) rather than right (to Publix) and been in the confines of my den, the beauty would still have been there.

It served as an awesome -- and I don't know when I've meant that word more literally -- reminder that no matter what may be going on in the world, or in my life, or in the lives of those for whom I care, there is always, always, beauty in that same world, or in my life, and in the lives of those for whom I care.

The Lord bless thee, and keep thee; the Lord make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: the Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.