THOUGHTS ON RAINBOWS

I heard these comments about rainbows at the ELCSA Eastern Diocese Synod a few weeks ago and wanted to share them with you, in light of South Africa’s National Day of Reconcilation, celebrated on Dec. 16. First, a rainbow is composed of multiple colors, not just one or two. Second, all those colors tend to blur together where they meet, creating endless possibilities of color. Third, a rainbow appears when both rain and sunshine are present. All of these things are true not only of rainbows, but of the Rainbow Nation itself. Even here in small town Carolina, the diversity of people and cultures is astounding. Blacks, Whites, Indians, and Chinese people all live and work in the community. Zulus, Swatis, and Afrikaaners maintain their cultural heritage while proudly being South African at the same time. At the moment, jobs and living areas are still strongly defined by race, but  they are starting to blur; in urban areas they are blending even more noticeably.  

"Rainbow Wall" at the OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg

Most importantly, South Africa is in the midst of good (sunshine) and bad (rain) times, simultaneously. Many tourists who never get out of the city may well presume that South Africa is a fully developed country with reliable infrastrucutre and services, however the South Africa outside touristed areas looks much different. As our Pietermaritzburg hostel manager told us during orientation, “South Africa is a first world country with third world problems.” It is my hope that the people of South Africa not only continue to take intentional steps towards reconciling themselves on matters of race and inequality, but  recognize that they need each other’s diversity and color in order to create the perfect rainbow.