Some years ago, our minister admonished us to repeat the Apostles’ Creed regularly. Although I memorized the Creed, my mind often wandered as I fell into rote memorization, merely providing lip service to words that should motivate my existence. To force myself to focus on the meaning, I began to visualize those words, and the visualization became so intense that at times I found myself cringing as I witnessed the crucifixion. Below, you’ll find the Apostles’ Creed with an explanation of my visualizations below each line.
I believe
in God, the Father Almighty,
A light so
white, so bright mortal eyes cannot look upon the Light.
Creator of
heaven and earth,
A lush
green and blue sphere bathed in light and surrounded by a brilliant blue sky.
and in
Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,
The manger,
the Baby, the Light, the love.
who was
conceived by the Holy Spirit,
A soft,
warm mist like morning fog as it rises from the waters.
born of the
Virgin Mary,
A humble
young girl with captivating eyes who bows her head.
suffered
under Pontius Pilate,
A young man
drops to his knees as a whip lashes and cuts creases across his bare back.
was
crucified,
The hammer
strikes again and again as spikes are driven into the kind and caring hands of
the gentle Jesus.
died
From the raised cross he cries “It is finished,” and breathes his last, the reality of “He endured all this for you!” evident in the blood leaking from his many wounds
and was buried;
The cross lowered, and his limp and abused body is taken to the tomb where the women weep as they cleanse and cover him with a shroud.
He
descended into hell;
From amongst
the rocks, the stone rolls away. The tomb is empty, and he is gone.
on the
third day He rose again from the dead;
The arisen Jesus
in a room with his followers, celebrating with love and laughter and promise.
He ascended
into heaven,
He ascends
as the saints, with arms extended, welcome and praise Jesus at Heaven’s Gate.
and is
seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
Heaven’s light
grows brighter as Jesus takes his seat at the right hand of the Holy Father.
from there
He will come to judge the living and the dead.
With pained
expression, Jesus returns to the earthly realm to pass judgement on all.
I believe
in the Holy Spirit,
The Spirit as
bright light dwells within me, helping me navigate the treacherous paths ahead.
the holy catholic
church,
One family
of Christian churches linked by love for Abba and the one true Savior.
the communion
of Saints,
All the
Saints praying for our redemption.
the
forgiveness of sins,
Christ as he
intercedes for me before the Father, and a wash of light as I am forgiven yet
again.
the
resurrection of the body,
The spiritual
body as it floats upward toward the Light to be welcomed home.
and life
everlasting.
A daily
dream of heaven where I am greeted with a love that surpasses earthly
understanding.
Amen.
May we never stop cringing as we live what Christ died to give to us.
Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”
—Luke 23:34 (KJV)
Sandra Jones Cropsey is a playwright, novelist, and children’s writer. Her novel Who’s There was a finalist for the 2008 “Georgia Book of the Year” and was produced as a play in 2010 by the Main Street Players. In 2009, she received a grant to produce her children’s story, Tinker’s Christmas, as a radio drama. Presently, she is working on scheduling a reading of her new play, “All My Trials, Lord.” She writes at cropseyauthor.com.
