The rainbow, its magic unwoven by science, still inspires the mind and relaxes the body

Dec 10, 2004 by Naomi.

I stretched and stood to relieve tension from hours bent at the computer
putting together the finishing touches on a newsletter for the McNary
National Wildlife Refuge. I squeezed my eye lids tightly to remove the
monotony of the fixed target of the computer screen. Turning to the window
expecting to simply extend my vision, I was treated to the most brilliant
rainbow I had seen in months. The color spectrum was subtle in its changes
and instantly my eyes followed the arch upward as it spread across the
sky and plummeted back to the horizon. There was the most awesome presentation
of nature. In that moment all the weariness in my body fled, replaced
by the strength of wonder that never fails to rejuvenate my spirit.

No doubt the contrast of the colors against the solid slate gray of rain
clouds that had plagued the sky all day made the colors more intense and
the presentation more dramatic. I stood transfixed. And while I was overwhelmed,
the colors faded until all was lost in a gently falling rain. I had the
good sense to go inside to shut the rain away from my body but the rainbow
was not so easily shut away from my mind. Science explained the refraction
of colors and the crystals of minerals in the airborne water.

Should that hard and natural science cast a gloom on the awesome sight?
No, it did not! The knowledge made the rainbow even more awesome. Understanding
the why and how of the science of the rainbow did not diminish the excitement
that flooded my weary mind and body. Nor did it diminish my appreciation
of the rainbow and its timely appearance. Instead of a tiring day ending
with discouraging fatigue, it ended with improved satisfaction of time
well spent and a job well done.

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