Somewhere Over The Rainbow

I read a quote a number of years ago on one of those daily inspirational calendars someone bought for me as a gift. Expect nothing, live frugally on surprise. Through the ensuing years my mind has drifted back to that quote, the sage advice, the words sponging my mind, dabbing at the need to control the circumstances and lives in my own little world. Yesterday at the coast, I saw a splendid rainbow, a multi-colored arc whose one end touched down upon the foamy caps of the rolling waves. A gasp of delight escaped my throat as I scanned the brooding clouds overhead, their bellies ready to explode, then glanced back to the unexpected gift of nature. Turning to my right , I noticed a jogger running through the prism of colors, how it brushed her shoulders while toying with the winter sand. "Get your camera!" I said to my husband. A second, more hazy rainbow emerged next to the primary one. He stepped backward, eager to capture the entire scene for future viewing. A number of shots, a few quick looks at the small digital screen, a few more clicks. As we continued back to our room, I couldn't help but notice a certain buoyancy to our steps, a lifting of the spirit. The older I get, the more I am beginning to see the wisdom of that quote on the calendar. In a violent, hectic, often greedy world, it's sometimes tempting to demand explanations, material things or the financial freedom to retire before the age of seventy. I like to dwell upon my God, somewhere over the rainbow, loving the mess, hugging the wounded and lavishing the human race with unexpected gifts along our way.