(Note to reader: when the "past life" is mentioned, it is referring to game lore from the Final Fantasy XIII series. When the current life is mentioned, it is referring to my actual real life and beliefs. It's fun to tie the two together in an exploration of spiritual matters. What some believe to be myth in this world, others believe to be true. Please let me know if I am being insensitive or offensive to your beliefs. I do not want to start any flame wars.)
The symbol of the rainbow as described in Noah's story in the Bible is synonymous with hope. It's a promise from God that the Earth will not be flooded again in the future. It's a promise of good things to come for those who are righteous in this life.
I want to tell you about a special experience I had in this life that is both deeply personal and something I want to shout from a mountaintop. If it was a coincidence, it was a spectacular one. I'd like to think it was a miracle.
My grandfather was someone who revered the rainbow and used it as much as he could in his home and office decor. He collected rainbow children's books, photos, pins, clothing and more. He put references to the rainbow in speeches and poems he wrote in his career as an educational counselor. He inspired joy and hope in everyone who came to know him as "The Rainbow Man". He even had a sign at the family cabin that welcomed us to "The Williams Rainbow Retreat".
Sadly, he passed away from complications due to prostate cancer in November of 2011. He was positive until his dying breath. I brought a rainbow pinata to his funeral service and his blue casket was topped in a rainbow of roses. The pews were full of people from church, from BYU (no one could top him for biggest BYU sports fan. NO ONE.), from schools where he had worked, from his community. Truly a hero's sendoff. And this was just his Utah service.
He had a second service in Mesa, Arizona where he had lived and worked for many years. I was unable to attend his burial service, but was given a full report. It had been raining on and off throughout the day. My mother went, even though she had long been divorced from my father (grandpa is his father). They have always been on good terms. Mom brought with her a rainbow striped umbrella.
The burial service was held under a canopy, though the sky had begun to clear. My mother said people were slowly leaving after paying their final respects, but something told her to stay a bit longer. She felt it...there was going to be a rainbow.
And wouldn't you know it...there it formed, and not just any rainbow. The giant, brightly colored, full-arced double rainbow of lore. Noah himself would be misty eyed. It stretched all the way over the cemetery like a gateway to Heaven itself.
Grandpa must have some serious pull on the other side. The angels probably heard a request as he ran up the stairs with his arms open wide, and I can just imagine the smiles on their faces as they said, "oh, you just watch."
