The social realm is often left out of invisible/visible distinctions because it can be hard to say whether and to what extent it is one or the other. On one hand, it is public, manifested by sensible signs and mediated by time, space, and matter. Sounds visible. On the other hand, its real import is almost wholly in relationships, patterns of activity, and communications the essences of which are far removed from direct sensible perception. Seeing handshakes or hearing greetings is not directly seeing respect or friendship or enmity.

“Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, ‘Do it again’; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. “For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, ‘Do it again’ to the sun; and every evening, ‘Do it again’ to the moon.

🧵 Right now here's approximately where my mind is on baptism and the efficacy thereof. This unpolished as I am falling asleep, so pardon anything weird:
• Baptism is connected to both internal/spiritual and external/temporal effects. • The external effects correspond to, signify, and are gifts betokening of the internal effects.
• The external effects are "automatic" (ex opere operato???) upon the performance of the rite, since the rite itself is external.