Recently I saw a complete rainbow. It has been many years since I’ve seen a full rainbow; from time to time I’ve seen partial ones which are pretty, but this rainbow was especially beautiful. I was on the bus returning home from work, almost to where I get off, and I just happened to look out the window on the other side of the bus and saw it. I wonder what made me look that way. Most of the ride I usually read and when I look out I tend to look out the window on the side of the bus where I’m sitting. But whatever impulse caused me to look the other way, I’m thankful for it.
When I got off the bus at the bus station a few minutes later, I quickly got to my car in the parking ramp and to the street, hoping to see the rainbow again. But it was no longer there. Rainbows are like that–fleeting. It reminded me of how life gives us special moments, unexpected surprises. Rainbows are one of the beauties of nature, and nature provides us with many special moments–a pretty sunrise, birds singing, a refreshing breeze. But nature is not the only source of special moments. They also come from people treating people with care and respect. A greeting with a smile, holding the door open for someone, being understanding when someone is struggling, being patient. Just as the rainbow was only there a few minutes and yet seeing it meant a lot to me, these and other acts of caring might just take a minute or two also and can make such a difference to both the beneficiary of the caring as well as to the giver.