Rainbow

Don't we all just love seeing a beautiful rainbow stretching across the sky after the rain? The rainbow usually stops anyone in their tracks because it just is such a wonderful sight to behold. I find it fascinating to see a whole group of people looking up into the sky and expressing their delight in seeing it. I'll never forget the day that we buried my Godfather and a rainbow expanded above the Riverside National Cemetery -- many times now, a rainbow not only reminds me of God's promise, but also my Godfather. I love and miss him very much.

Because I am a Christian, I have read that the rainbow was provided as a sign and a promise (covenant) to man after God destroyed all humanity and living creatures on the earth, with the exception of those humans and creatures that were provided safety by an ark that Noah built. The promise was between God and man that He would never again destroy all life on earth with a flood.

For the LGBTQ+ community the rainbow represents a symbol of pride, unity and diversity within the community. Gilbert Baker in 1978 initially designed an eight color flag, then it evolved into a six color flag that with each color represented life, healing, sunlight, nature, serenity and spirit. Then it evolved to represent different groups within the community. There are combinations of all and now individual flags that represent each group.

As an artist, the rainbow is my palette for my acrylic paintings. I choose very bright colors as I love to bring cheer and whimsy to the eye of the beholder of my art pieces. Although I love subtle and darker shades as well, my go to colors have always been those from the rainbow.

What is a rainbow? -- It is a group of colors combined to create a colored circle formulated by light and sun reflections. If you look at a rainbow from above the clouds in an airplane, you can see a fully formed rainbow is round. As we usually see it at ground level, it is an arch. As with prisms when the light reflects through it, it forms Red, Yellow, Orange, Green, Blue, Indigo and Purple colors on the wall. We can all agree when colors are combined as a rainbow, still separately each color has a name that creates the rainbow.

Different organizations have used various colors with ribbons to represent their causes and bring awareness to us. Purple for Epilepsy Awareness and Alzheimer's Awareness, Red for AIDS Awareness and also for the American Heart Association Awareness, Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness,  etc. The list of colors and organizations are endless and meaningful to many individuals.

We are also aware that different gangs have adopted colors to set each other apart and to recognize when boundaries are being crossed. It's sad that during my youth certain colors worn could guarantee if you were in a gang and crossed boundaries, your life could be jeopardized. It became so bad that the wearing of colors or colors combined were forbidden in a community or school setting.

The point of my blog today is to just share that rainbows and colors can have different meanings for everyone. Because we are as diverse as the rainbow's symbolism meanings, for each one of us we get to decide for ourselves what those meanings are to us as individuals.

Another thing that I have been taught as a Christian is that nothing of this world belongs to us. It is all temporary -- so to say that something shouldn't be used to represent something else is so contrary to what we have been taught. I think it is important to practice love and tolerance between each other. People should be able to display their symbolism as they wish and wear the colors that they like without feeling that they will be ostracized or harmed because of it.

This takes me back to the 70's when I had a bright yellow Volkswagen. In my back windshield right in the center, I had put a big beautiful rainbow sticker. Quite often I would be stopped by someone and told that I shouldn't have that rainbow sticker there because of its representation. Of course, I asked what they meant by that comment. They would reply unless you are gay, you shouldn't have it displayed. Of course, because I am an outspoken person I would let them know that it is displayed there because I love color and a rainbow and my sexual preference should not even be a topic of conversation. Then I would end the conversation usually with, however I am a very happy person -- so it stays.

Just a side note that evoked this blog in the first place -- the rainbow and colors belong to God if you are following biblical principles -- however as individuals we can delight in, wear, support awareness and causes and paint with any color we desire -- because, we do have freedom of choice.