Doubt Is a Weakness

Doubt is a weakness.
It makes the knees weak
when one must move forward.
It makes the arm hesitate
when the iron is hot
and striking too late will deform the piece.

Doubt is a weakness.
But some ancient Bard,
under the influence of a Spirit we all know,
sometimes, too well, we think,
said

I fear, lest they shall mock at my works.

And that Spirit replied

Fools mock, but they shall mourn.

Doubt is a weakness,
the ancient Bard said,
and I fear then, for their souls.

And that Spirit replied,

My grace is sufficient for the meek
because it is the meek who make room
not just for doubt,
but for new belief --
for more knowledge,
for greater things --
for greater service.

If they who mock learn to doubt
they might learn to believe.
And if they learn to listen to their hearts,
they may learn, if they will,
greater truths than they have known.

But first they must doubt those things that they have believed
which make them mock at another's difference.

Doubt is a weakness, but the Spirit said
Weakness Makes Strength
if we are not too proud to be weak
if we are not too proud to doubt
if we are not too hurt to
listen to the Spirit of Truth
when our hearts are telling us
it's time to set the context of the lesser truths aside
and move forward into the greater light.

But I fear the greater light, I cry to the bard.
It makes them different.
It makes me different.
Difference makes us weak.

And what should I believe --
if the greater light says
what I believed before
was a limit to good
was a limit to truth
was a limit to Love?

Is not truth Truth?

The Bard nods his head in reply.

I have Loved you, says that Spirit.
And I love you still.

You must let them choose what they will,
because that is how you follow me,
because I love them too.

In the greater light, you shall see
how the greater truth encompasses the lesser,
how the differences make the whole stronger,
how the weakness leads the humble child to courage.

So I put the piece back in the fire,
and watch for the time to come,
to pull it from the fire and strike again.