When In Doubt

Art is a medium. Art is an oppurtunity to invent. Most importantly, art is a story.

And now let me take this opportunity to share with you one of my most favorite stories

Nickelcreek is possibly my favorite band (I wish they were still together!). What shines through immediately with this bluegrass trio is their sheer musical brilliance, found in their careful harmonies and intricate arrangements. One of my favorite songs by Nickelcreek is Doubting Thomas. This song is the basis for the whole album, Why Should The Fire Die, which treats faith as an artistic curse. Nickelcreek offers a unique mix of old faith and modern doubts and uses that as a driving force behind their songs.

The story behind Doubting Thomas deals with a man who questions his faith and expresses his doubts on whether he will “discover a soul-saving love” after death. Beneath the layer of the lyrics, lies a biblical reference in the title. Thomas, “Doubting Thomas,” as he is sometimes called, is one of Jesus’ disciples who put into words the truth that Jesus is both Lord and God. “Doubting Thomas” utters one of the greatest confessions of faith recorded anywhere in the Bible. After watching Jesus as he gets nailed to the cross in Golgotha, Thomas becomes so disillusioned that he doesn’t gather with his fellow disciples. Peter, another one of Jesus’ disciples, witnesses the resurrection of Jesus and pleads with Thomas to believe him. But Thomas is clouded by doubt and misjudgment. However, Thomas does not stay a doubter. Jesus appeared and stood among Thomas and his fellow disciples and erased all doubt from his mind.

I know, I know. We all have the ability to doubt. We have the ability to show anguish. Express worry. Develop anxiety. In the words of my roomate and friend, Jesse, "we also have the right to joy".

I don't want to be a Doubting Thomas. I dont want to have to see something extra-ordinary to believe. When something goes wrong or not according to plan I want to be able to just have an "oh-well" mentality because that is not what the Lord intended for me. I want to dwell and rest in the fact that my Lord and God is real and is always moving.

Be still in the fact that He is always moving.