When the spring season rolls in from the chill of winter, the Washington DC region dips a brush onto a striking palette of glorious white and pink blossoms. As I recently stood alone on a grassy knoll, a breeze emerged, unexpectedly blowing a collection of tiny blossoms from the trees, which settled at my feet. It was as if a pathway of hope had been marked by the delicate petals, an invitation to step away from what for many has been a season of discontent and doubt.

It occurred to me amidst that peaceful setting to edge up against the word doubt, to embrace it for a moment. The word is complex. We never yearn for it, but we so learn from it. And while sometimes discouraging, the feeling can also be motivating. Embedded within the word doubt is a word that with a contrasting irony offers a path of action to help us emerge from uncertainty. It may not be immediately apparent, but it calls out to offer counsel.........

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