The End of the Rainbow

We're all familiar with the famous Irish legend that a pot of gold lays hidden at the end of every rainbow to be retrieved only by those mythical and mischievous little people - the Leprechauns.

Over the centuries people have tried to find that pot of gold, but alas, with no success, bringing about doubt that such a thing even exists. And, in fact, it's been questioned as to whether a rainbow does, indeed, have an end.

The Bible states that a rainbow is a symbol of God's promise never to bring a great flood upon the earth - ever. Scientists on the other hand state that the rainbow is created when sunlight shines through the prism of raindrops, creating this spectacular array of colors.

I can't say how many rainbows I've seen in my lifetime nor can I recall how many complete ones I've have the opportunity to observe, either. But, on those rare occasions when a full blown rainbow in all its glorious colors makes its appearenace, I'm always in awe.

Getting back to that end of the rainbow business. I've never seen the end of the rainbow. When I've been lucky enought to see a rainbow, it makes no difference how far I drive or walk, the end of the rainbow always seems just out of reach.

So, it was on a rainy and somewhat warm day back in late February 2008, that my luck changed. While driving the back roads of Holmes County, Ohio on the way to pick up my son at his Amish babysitter's house, the northern sky was dark and heavy with rain, while to the south the sun was shining brightly. As I veared onto the county road, I noticed in the field to my right a huge, spectacular rainbow. The colors were so rich and vibrant and the rainbow itself was so huge that I had to crane my neck out the window to see its full height. But what made me slam on the brakes and stop (luckily, this is not a heavily traveled road) was the fact that I could see the end of the rainbow! The rainbow's colors stretched out across the field and then arced up to create that well known arch we've come to know when rain and sunshine mix. It took my breath away. Unfortunately, there was no pot of gold to be found, but I did catch a glimpse of something small and green racing across the field and disappearing into the woods.