I’m going to step away from what is happening at this very minute, meaning the election, and stay on the thankful list. I know I will write on the election later.
The question actually is, what color, singular, are you thankful for. I imagine we all have a favorite color. A color that we wear more often or that is seen more in our decorating. Being thankful though, for a single color takes some thought.
I could choose red, as in the traffic light. While getting caught by a red light is frustrating, especially if we are running late to an appointment, but it does serve the purpose of attempting to keep traffic flowing more safely. Red is also the color of the lights on fire trucks or rescue vehicles. A bright light that hopefully we notice and move out of the way so they can continue on their important mission.
There is the green light that tells us to move on along now, its your turn. Again, traffic flowing.
That blue light that you never, ever want to see in your rear view mirror, Like the police or not, they are important. They are the ones who will put their life on the line to save yours. I’m not going into the good and bad debate here, this is not about that. They are the one who hunt down the bad guy that just attacked the senior citizen because they were an easy target, and they are the ones who will come out in force to help search for your lost child.
Yellow is used as a universal color for caution. Warning you that for what ever reason, not to cross into a certain area. It is also on the informational traffic signs. It is the yellow light that warns you, your go green time is over and that red stop time is coming.
Orange, hunter orange to be precise, is worn if you are out in the woods during hunting season, so that other hunters won’t mistake you for a deer or moose or really big turkey.
The use of colors for information is important. It is a visual reminder of what we should do or know. But what of other purposes?
Those wildflowers growing along the roadway, whites, reds, blues, purples. A reminder of when there were no roads and nature was everywhere. Colors so bright as to attract the pollinators. When you see a field so full of flowers a slight breeze makes it appear as if it is part of the sea, complete with waves.
To look up at a sky so deep, clear, blue that it seems to go on forever. Only a wisp of a white cloud breaking the solidity. Or that blue sky, where those white, puffy clouds drift across like nature’s sailboats on a clear, atmospheric sea. Reminding you of the game you played as a child, what shapes do you see?
There are days, when that same sky, will be a mat grey, a blanket that hides the sunlight and yet allows the colors of the earth show true. Not bleached out, but deep and stark against the earth. Or an angry black, preparing for the storms approaching. Kicking up winds and streaked with white, yellow lightening.
The blue greens of water. Created by the plant life within. Clear as crystal in some areas, murky in others. Water, a much needed source for life, but a playground for the young and young at heart.
The black, white, brown, tan, orange of that puppy or kitten that snuggles up close showing you nothing but trust and love.
When you look at it this way, how do you pick one color to be thankful for? Every color has a good and playful purpose.
There is the rainbow, a collection of colors. Red, green, yellow..reminders of a promise.
Then, as a Christian, I think red. Red for the blood of Christ that was shed. The red blood that ran down from His wounds. Red droplets that fell to the ground around the wooden cross he was nailed upon. Red, the stripes across His body from the scourging that tore away the flesh. Red, the blood that washes over me the sinner, and cleanses me white as snow. Forgiven and loved.
Words from The Dirt Road 