Seeing is believing. What is “seeing”? Tiny bits of light pass through our eye to our retina. They hit receptors in our retina. A million tiny tubes in our optic nerves carry the light into our brain.
Our brain learns to recognize what we see. “I see a bluebird!” we say when we see one.
We didn’t really see a bluebird. We saw the light that bounced off the bluebird. A billionth of a trillionth of an ounce of light got through our eye, passed our retina, and went down the optic nerve to the “Bird analysis area” of our brain.
From there, it went to the “talk about what you see” area of the brain. Then, to the tongue and voice box. Then, we say “I saw a bluebird”. What we really saw was a recognized pattern of reflected light.
We may note: “The bluebird ate a brown beetle and flew to a white birch tree.” Wow! All that from bits of light too tiny to weigh or measure or even know what they are.
Catholics realize: “We are actors in The Big Movie! Wherever we look, all we see are stage props and set decorations!” Catholic Fundamentalism suggests: “Every movie has a Producer, Writer, and Director. That’s a simple way to think of The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. They made The Big Movie.”
Catholics know how small we are. “My soul came into being when my mother’s ova, half the size of a grain of salt, was fertilized by a cell from my father no bigger than two grains of talcum powder! My spirit, mind, and body all coalesced around that tiny spark!” Catholics know: “Life must be protected from conception to natural death.”
Catholics know how big we are. “My tiny soul took on all that I am. I am a star in The Big Movie! I have free will! I write my own lines! I play the role I want!”
Catholics know that after our performance, we meet The Critic.
If we want a favorable review, and be invited to the Exclusive Cast Party that goes on forever, we have to follow Direction. They were provided by The Writer. He clearly said:
“Verily, verily I say unto you thou art Peter and on this rock I build My Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I give you the keys to The Kingdom of Heaven.”
Better to see that than obsess about bluebirds.
Seeing is believing.
