Thursday, February 16, 2012

Is A Rainbow Just A Simple, Everyday Thing?


We all know that we are constantly "taking our lives for granted" and we take such simple things in our lives for granted. We often acknowledge that we have things, but we don't really take a minute to really think "wow it's so amazing that I have this."
A rainbow - an arch of colors formed in the sky in certain circumstances, caused by the refraction and dispersion of the sun's light by rain or other water droplets in the atmosphere - as defined in the dictionary. However, did anyone sit and look at a rainbow, and see how beautiful it is and really wonder why we have rainbows? I know this isn't true for me. One morning, as I walked into my kitchen I saw this rainbow reflected on the lamp. I realized that it was a result of the sun hitting the crystal piece we have hanging from our fan. However, I didn't really think of the meaning of a rainbow - even though this wasn't necessarily a rainbow in the sky as a result of a storm, it's still important that we understand the true meaning of a rainbow.
After the Mabul, when Hashem destroyed the world because the people were sinning, Hashem saw that man sins naturally. It's a man's natural reaction to sin and to do wrong and to not live up to what Hashem maybe expects from them. So, Hashem made a brit, promise, to never destroy the world by way of flood ever again - and as a symbol of this brit, He puts a rainbow in the sky after a storm to remember this Brit, and to reassure us that it will not be broken.
It's really a miracle that Hashem gives us this sign, to show us that maybe He wanted to destroy the world, but since He made this brit - He didn't. When just looking at a rainbow and thinking, "oh wow it's beautiful," you don't delve into the deep meaning that this rainbow really entails. However, once realizing, and acknowledging that true meaning of a rainbow - it enhances it's beauty so much more.

1 comment:

  1. I love seeing posts by Jamie! it's so exciting when your name pops up on the blog. I like how you described the rainbow and especially the picture. It really is true in life how we take many things in nature for granted, not only rainbows. Most parts of nature are never really looked at for their beauty but it is so important to recognize Hashem's wonders. I know this sounds super cheesy but it's true.

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