Rain in a rainbow and positive thinking

The current COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on all our lives and has brought unprecedented challenges to our local charities, which is why I have decided to do a ‘Daily December Devine Dash’ (D4) to raise much-needed funds for the local Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice Service – which relies almost exclusively on donations to cover the £1.6million a year it costs to run its services.

Also, with so many of our windows still festooned with rainbows in support of our NHS staff and key workers (like those at the hospice), I though readers might like to be reminded that there are actually two definitions of ‘rainbow’.

A. An arch of colours formed in the sky by reflection (The Oxford Dictionary)

B. God’s sign that he has made a contract that never again will there be a flood to lay waste the entire Earth (Genesis 9-12/14, the story of Noah and the flood)/ With this in mind I submit the following:

1. If you only see things in black and white you will miss seeing rainbows

2. Don’t be frightened of the storm for it often only precedes a rainbow

3. When it’s dark look for stars, when it rains look for rainbows

4. Always remember it takes the rain as well as the sun to make rainbows.

Finally, please stay calm, safe, optimistic (but realistic), stay adhering to Government guidelines/social distancing/social gathering rules, stay sensible and stay praying for a better, safer, COVID-19 free, more tolerant and all inclusive world.

And a blessed Christmas and a peaceful new year to you all.

PAUL FARMER Wensley Road, Reading