Dare I say this ? But in the Book of Common Prayer there is a prayer for Rain part of which says “Send us, we beseech thee, in this our necessity, such moderate rain and showers”.
A prayer which follows that in the Prayer Book is for fair weather which says “Send us such weather, that we may receive the fruits of the earth in due season.” Let us hope this is so before we consider having to build another Ark !
God of course said he would never again flood the earth and set the Rainbow as a sign this would be so. Rainbows – we have all seen them but how did they come about.?
There is a story I used to tell youngsters – once all the colours in the world started to quarrel. Each claimed they were the best colour, the most important, the most useful, the favourite.
GREEN said: “I am the sign of life and hope. I was chosen for grass, trees, leaves. You can see I am in the majority.”
BLUE interrupted: “Consider the sky and the blue sea. The sky gives space and peace and serenity.”
YELLOW chuckled: “ You are all so serious, I bring laughter and warmth into the world. The sun, moon and stars are yellow. Without me there would be no fun.”
ORANGE trumpeted: “I am the colour of health and strength. I may be scarce but I am precious. I carry the most important vitamins. When I fill the sky at sunrise or sunset my beauty is so striking.”
RED shouted out: “I’m your ruler I’m the colour of blood, passion and love; the red rose, the poinsettia and the poppy.”
VIOLET rose up and spoke with great pomp: “ I am the colour of royalty and power. Kings, chiefs and bishops have chose me to represent authority and wisdom.”
INDIGO spoke quietly but firmly: “You hardly notice me, but all need me. I represent thought and reflection, twilight and deep waters. You require me for balance and contrast, for prayer and inner peace.”
All the colours argued but stopped when a rainstorm broke overhead with thunder and lightening – the colours were filled with fear. Then the rain spoke: “ You foolish colours fighting among yourselves, each trying to dominate the rest. Don’t you know that God made you all? – each for a special purpose, different and unique. He loves and wants you all. He will stretch you out across the sky in a great bow of colour, as a reminder that He loves you all, that you can live together in peace; a promise that He is with you, a sign of hope for tomorrow.” And so God whenever God has used a good fall of rain to wash the world, he puts the Rainbow in the sky.
So a Prayer for Rain or a Prayer for Fair Weather but at least the Rainbow calls us to appreciate one another.
But for now as Morecambe and Wise used to say
“Bring me Sunshine”
Every Blessing
Peter