Rainbow

On leaving my first pastorate at Johnson Creek United Methodist Church

Orange, green and violet light filters through
The stained glass window above the altar
Like watercolors spilled onto the floor
The colors mingle and flow down the aisle
Following the angle of the faithful sun.
They mingle,
Like the people in worship here
Or like the Trinity,
The three colors of God become one.
A portrait of the life of God in this place,
Each soul a hue of light dabbed onto the canvas of this church.
There is nothing lost in this painting,
Not the joy of song,
Nor the sorrow of grief,
Not the cofee or pastries,
Nor the smell of bread and grape juice at the altar,
Not the cards sent,
Nor the scriptures read,
Not the prayers spoken,
Nor the good works done.
One hundred fifty years of light spilling God into this place,
One hundred fifty years of souls
That have come and gone from this place—
All a painting of God's grace
Colors of mercy and love:
God's face.
I will not leave here forgetting any face—
Because you are all the colors,
You are the rainbow of God's grace.


—Eric Nelson