A milky way rainbow

I was feeling a bit low the other day. I had a lot to do in preparation for a deadline, and I ended up not having planned a youth work session half an hour before it was to begin. I spoke to a friend on facebook who suggested icing biscuits as gifts for someone to encourage them.

Great idea!

I needed to get to the shop, buy some biscuits and icing and get back very quickly. So I left, in a rush and still not in the best of moods, but feeling a little hopeful that the session wouldn't go too badly.

Then pathetic fallacy took place; it started to rain. Blue skies turned to grey, and water poured from above to shower the thirsty grass.

And to get me wet and to literally dampen my spirits even more!

I parked my car, walked quickly to the shop, grabbed a basket and whizzed round in a matter of minutes. I wasn't overly rushing, but I was aware of my time limit. Hence I chose my queue carefully. I surveyed the conveyors, eyed up the number of products and plumped on going to the cigarette till.

There I was pleased to wait patiently for the woman being served to discover she could not find her store membership card, I was pleased to wait for the man in front of me as he asked for cigarettes. Then a voice from behind,

"Excuse me," says the woman quietly, "do you mind if I just go in front? I have to pick up my grandson from school." I eye the Milky Way in her hand, unimpressed.

"NO!" I yell, "There are others of us in a hurry to, you know!"

"Thank you," she says, as I realise I actually let her past in a mad moment of remembering I'm a follower of Jesus.

Another, even older woman with a bag on wheels, taps me on the shoulder,

"There are still some kind people left in the world."

I smile guiltily, knowing my initial reaction.

I pay for my goods. I step outside. It is raining even harder.

"Look!" cries a daughter in the car park. I obey with the mother and see a rainbow, curving majestically, owning the sky.

Now I smile knowingly, God is in a rainbow. His promises reside there.

With Feeling

Hopelessness pervades whenever hope begins to grow,

Doubts swell, rising as a tide, breaking the defences

Friends gone. So it seems. Their distant cries a helpless call,

For what?

Me?

A shell of a man, frozen in this bitter wind, stagnant in these still waters

Life, effervescence, champagne joy

Popped.

Desolately I fall to my knees,
Angrily I cry my tears of despair,
For who is with me now?
If my God is for me?

They stand against me, at all sides
Shoving me back
Into a cocoon

Maybe I'll blossom, flower

Fly away from these binding ropes

Soar once more to those dizzy heights of wondering how I ever learnt to glide
Know myself capable in the maker's hands

Hands that hold the world
Holding me.