Admiring Doubting Thomas

From a posting today by the Rev. Maggi Dawn:

Thomas has often been called "doubting Thomas" - a title that is hardly a compliment. But there are lots of reasons, I think, for applauding Thomas - he was honest, he didn't pretend to have faith he didn't have, he didn't just go along with the crowd. He did that very hard thing, which is to own up to being the odd one out among a group of friends.

And, bravely, even when he was the odd one out, he didn't go away and isolate himself, he just carried on meeting with the other disciples until, a week later, he saw Jesus for himself and found a faith that he COULD own. 

(Extra paragraphing added.)

Do read it all.