Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Robert Howson
Tuesday, September 17, 2024
With all deference to the greats like Ansel Adams, the world would be a poorer place without color. True, we’d still have texture and pattern to enrich our lives, but somehow things wouldn’t be the same. Because many of us think, and even dream in color, we tend to project that ability onto others. For example, when the bullfighter furls his red cape at the bull we tend to think this excites the bull into charging, when in truth it only sees motion, not the color. The festive red is there for our benefit, not for the bull’s. And your dog or cat would not be impressed with the vibrancy of the colors flaunted by the thistle and butterfly in this picture.
True, other creatures, such as most insects and birds, have the ability to perceive color. In fact, some insects’ color vision extends far beyond ours, extending into the ultraviolet hues. This color vision is thought to enable them to find ripe food more easily as well as aiding in the selection of a mate.
As humans we’re not too different. If you’re a fan of the NBA, it’s likely you recognize purple and orange as the colors of the Phoenix Suns. And in the collegiate ranks the Clemson Tigers also sport those same team colors. But they’re not colors you usually think of as naturally going together.
Just as a true fan would never think of hiding his team’s colors, so we too must let it be know what side we are on, and this is most clearly revealed during times of testing. “You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors.” (James 1:3 The Message) May we delight in all the colors of the Lord.