Cherish Your Doubt – Elizabeth Alexander – Choir of Unity Church-Unitarian (St. Paul, MN)

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Cherish Your Doubt

Words and Music by Elizabeth Alexander

Performed by Choir of Unity Church-Unitarian
(St. Paul, MN)
Ruth Palmer, conductor
Shirley Leiphon, soloist

Recording and Video © Elizabeth Alexander

www.seafarerpress.com/works/cherish-your-doubt

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Cherish Your Doubt

Lyrics by Elizabeth Alexander

Springtime without winter would enter with a yawn,
And dawn without the night would be a tedium of light.
Reunion follows parting, renewal follows death,
And our songs of love have grown
From the very seeds our doubt has sown.
Without a doubt, our hearts and minds would never grow,
Without a doubt, our dreams would have nowhere to go,
Without a doubt, we’d never change the status quo.
Yes, without a doubt, we’d be hanging on
To notions that are better gone,
So try to love the questions,
Those thorny, thorny questions.
Trust your intuition, and cherish your doubt.

Cherish your doubt, don’t throw it out.
That’s what true belief is about.
With a faith both tempered and strong,
Questioning only helps it along,
Use your eyes and ears and hands and heart and mind,
And what you find may change the world,
So don’t throw it out, don’t throw it out —
Cherish your doubt.

Cherish your doubt, don’t throw it out.
Mighty oaks can weather a drought.
Any faith worth taking to heart,
Tested a bit, will not fall apart.
Use your eyes and ears and hands and heart and mind,
And what you find may change the world,
So don’t throw it out, don’t throw it out —
Cherish your doubt.

(Don’t be afraid of what you’ll find.
Leave your darkest fears behind.)

Cherish your doubt, don’t throw it out.
That’s one thing you can’t do without.
When you walk that less-traveled route,
Wonderful new ideas may sprout.
Use your eyes and ears and hands and heart and mind,
And what you find may change the world,
So don’t throw it out, don’t throw it out —
Cherish your doubt.

(Cherish your doubt) Call on your reason and compassion
(Cherish your doubt) Although it may not be in fashion
(Cherish your doubt) Don’t be afraid of what you’ll find
(Cherish your doubt) Just leave your fears behind

Cherish your doubt, don’t you ever refuse it;
You can move a whole mountain if you use it —
Cherish your doubt.

A different drummer you will hear when you cherish your doubt.
You haven’t anything to fear when you cherish your doubt.
That’s what true belief is about — don’t throw it out!

© 2005 by Elizabeth Alexander