Doubt is a faint chill
you feel while sitting
in a cozy place,
wearing that soft sweater
your parents gave you.
You decide to light a fire,
and reach up with your hand,
to lift the cold, iron handle
of the chimney flue.
Glancing down,
you see your fingers stained
with black soot and ash.
You wonder, do my fingers match my soul?
Does God really love me?
The fire burns.
Like a prayer,
it starts small, but grows.
You hold out your ***** fingers,
to warm them by that fire.
You warm them, like Thomas
warmed his own,
in the side of Jesus.
Slowly that chill,
begins to leave you.
You begin to hope.
You hope because,
there is nothing else to do.