The rainbow never sets

Eckard, Sister Eva-Maria, didn't feel too happy in the hospital in this weather either. She came up on deck as often as she could. We would often talk and encourage each other.

On one such occasion we stood there again when dark rain clouds blew over from the West. It looked very threatening, and we both prepared to go below deck, when suddenly the sun broke through the clouds and a most beautiful rainbow appeared in the East. I stood mesmerised.

"Look! What brilliant colours!" "A lovely rainbow," said Eva-Maria. "Rainbows always make me feel warm inside. I like to think that they are a sign that God is still in charge, particularly when I go through difficulties and danger. When I see a rainbow, I remember the story in the Bible where he promised Noah that he would never destroy the earth and all living creatures. The rainbow is a sign for me, that I never need to give up hope, no matter how hopeless the situation may appear. God remains in control, even when things are in turmoil." "You mean for us now or for yourself?" "Yes, for us, but also for me personally. You see this ring? The blood stone has our family crest carved on it, depicting a sailing boat front on. On its left are clouds and lightning, a bit like we are going through now, and on its right is the bright sun. I know that where there is sun and rain, there is also a rainbow. This picture of our crest, then, without actually showing a rainbow, links me personally to the rainbow I see, and to the hope I have through God."

"Oh, really?" "Yes, and what's more, the ship in our family crest is symbolic of life itself. Life which sometimes goes through clouds and threatening experiences, with lightening, destruction and tears, sometimes through a sunny period, with warmth and comfort and ease. And the motto is: DER MENSCH DENKT Ñ GOTT LENKT." (in English 'Man proposes Ñ God disposes', or literally: 'Man thinks Ñ God steers', like a ship).

"Is that why you feel that the rainbow is a personal sign for you?" "Yes. I see God guiding me, not just throughout this trip, but all through my whole life, and particularly through my uncertainties in Australia, or wherever the future may take me."

"You are a born optimist then?" "I would say, that I have faith in God. That makes all the difference." "I can't say that of myself, unfortunately."

"Why not?" "I don't know." In the evening we felt that the ship suddenly stopped rolling. The engine was idling and we were drifting in the high sea with the waves coming from everywhere. We became quite concerned that something serious had gone wrong, but later I found out from Sister Eva-Maria, that a passenger of the migrant section had to have his appendix removed, and

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