Yesterday I was driving home from work, with the windshield wipers going, dreading walking my dog. By the time I got home, the rain had stopped. By the time I got changed and Copper on his leash, the clouds were beginning to part. Then there was a spectacular sunset. It was fiery orange behind the dark treeline changing into golden yellow across the clouds. I walked a bit further and the orange was bright but fading. Turning the corner I saw a rainbow. The big kind that is an entire semi-circle. The colors faded right to left, but that right side had deep colors and you could see every one - red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. The sunset was now shades of pink and purple. To the west shades any young girl would love to have splattered across their room, to the east an amazing rainbow.
I have a habit of talking out loud to my dog while I walk him. People probably wonder about me sometimes. I exclaimed to Copper, "Do you see that sunset? That rainbow?" Copper doesn't appreciate my pointing out the scenery. When I ask him about a scent, that he understands. And amongst this glorious evening color show and a unimpressed dog, it dawned on me. All those colors are for me - and you. Human beings are the only creature on earth that would understand how beautiful the sky was. The beauty is not necessary to function. It is a byproduct of the natural order of things, but not necessary. God created life -and not only that, he created a beautiful life- all because he loves everyone of us. The image of God gaining pleasure from my pleasure in his creation just reinforces how much he loves us.
Again, Copper could not quite grasp what I was trying to tell him. (I also believe God created Copper to show me how much love he has for me.) I ran the last bit of the way, up the stairs into my apartment and went straight onto the porch. I wanted to see the view from up high. Then I made my roommate look out her window and come on the porch. I had to share God's love with someone who could understand. There may have been some rambling amid my exclamations, but I think she got the point.
God created beauty for no other reason but to please us which pleases him when we attribute the glory of his creation to him.
