Day 12, Nicene Creed, 4th Line

of all things visible and invisible,

Dogs can’t see the full spectrum of colors, so it would make sense if they don’t acknowledge red. They’re dogs, you know? Cats, on the other hand, can see in the dark. It’s as if there is no darkness to them, so it would make sense if they don’t even believe in it, and think we humans are crazy for always walking funny in certain lighting conditions, running into things, tripping over toys and whatnot.

Most of us humans do see red, though, so we know what that is. And we know what darkness is too—the all familiar absence of the kind of light we’re able to see clearly in. But even if—and when—we aren’t able to perceive these things, we can still acknowledge and believe in red and darkness, because we are humans. We are reasoning creatures who are able to deduce that if there are things we can see that dogs can’t, and things cats can see than we can’t, then it’s perfectly reasonable to believe there are things none of us can see, but are just as real as anything our eyes perceive. We can know with certainty that there’s a reason for our stumblings in certain lighting conditions, and that there are new colors and depth of vision to look forward to when at last our eyes are completely open, and vision completely restored.

Care to share?

This reflection is a part of By Heart: A Lenten Prayer Project.