From the crowded confines of a supernatural floating ark, Noah stepped into the still
reality of an empty and lonely universe. The world that was, was no more. A fresh yet
vacant world with a drastically altered landscape now
encircled him, pleading and beckoning to him to begin again.
Dare I, wondered Noah, replenish the earth's population? Dare I facilitate
the naissance of nations and construction of cities, where the air shall be
filled with sounds of activity, cries of sorrows amidst laughter and joys? And
what if they follow that same pattern of corruption, which will culminate with my
offspring's obliteration through a future global cleansing?
Rainbows are minorities, yet they define the skies
G-d heard Noah's pondering. And G-d then created a beautiful arching bow of
light, where orange, scarlet, green and blue simultaneously curved as they
carved through the firmament. As Noah watched in wonder, behind him a wooden ark
of the past and before him a luminous arc of the future, G-d gave Noah His
promise...
Whenever mankind's skies would darken with untoward deeds; whenever the tapestry
of humankind's collective performance would grow heavy from sinful pursuits;
when their atmosphere would roll and their world would crash with the thunder of
violence and the turbulence of injustice; when dreadful flashes of denial,
dishonesty, cruelty and depravity would rend society asunder; when the victims'
blood and the tears of the oppressed would fall in hopeless torrents and
disappear beneath the sullen sodden soil of man's conscience -- there
would yet appear a redeeming rainbow.
Never again will He preserve the rose in a crafted pot whilst He
torches the rest of His garden
The embattled light of truth, justice and divinity will never again be
thoroughly blocked from filtering through the collective clouds of mankind's
perversity. There will always be a righteous minority within mankind who, despite the vapors, will be ready and willing to accept the burden and beauty of
arching bravely and steadily heavenwards, to touch some of heaven's radiance
from beyond, then curve gracefully back towards the earth
-- thus banishing the gloom from within their arc and filling the threatening
atmosphere with the glorious spectrum of colors that are manmade reflections of G-d's
truth and hope for mankind.
There will always be, G-d promised, at least a minority that remains faithful
to the seven laws that G-d gave all mankind; seven colors through which humankind can
survive, thrive and spiritually illuminate their planet. G-d's promise
guarantees their perpetual existence and their ability to shine, to ultimately
broaden their bands of influence and become the righteous majority...
Yet, in the midst of a mass of grey and white cloud, those particles with a
greenish or an orange reflection may appear uncomfortably obtrusive --some may
despair at maintaining their faith and honest ways in the face of a universe
filled with corruption. Or daunted at the task of encouraging the truths that
society prefers to ignore or ridicule.
They should realize, however, that G-d observes the honest and faithful with
delight, much as a child who dreads the storm is yet enthralled and enchanted
with the presence of a magnificent rainbow. Being unique does not detract from
the truth of one's course. Rainbows are minorities, yet they define the skies.
G-d observes the honest and faithful with delight,
much as a child who dreads the storm is yet enthralled and enchanted
with the presence of a magnificent rainbow
G-d promised Noah that He would observe this bright rainbow contrasted against
the blackened rage, and will spare the earth from destruction on behalf of the
rainbow. Never again will He preserve the rose in a crafted pot whilst He
torches the rest of His garden. Rather, on behalf of those future children of
Noah, who like Noah would walk with G-d, the rest of his descendants shall be
spared the annihilation suffered by the sons of Adam.
Adam sinned once, and all but one family of his offspring were drowned; Noah
preserved his faith, and G-d promised to preserve his progeny.
The rainbow is a sign that darkness shall not reign unchallenged forever, but
will eventually dissipate and fade from memory. Behind those clouds lie a
sun-filled sky of clarity of purpose and warmth for all. The mere existence of
these righteous minorities, that throughout history strive to reflect the Divine
in their lives and deeds, grants confident witness to the existence, proximity,
and eventual triumph of a bright future for all mankind.
A rainbow signals that the present chaos is merely the storm before the calm.
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