In July 2014, I started the Beatitudes Blog to encourage people in emotional pain.  Every brief post sheds light on the Beatitudes and invites readers to let the blessings flourish amid their suffering.
Whether you have been following all along or this is your first visit, let’s celebrate together by taking a quick look at the top posts and categories for the blog’s first six months.  We cycled through the eight Beatitudes six times, and below are the most widely read posts for each one.  See the bold purple notations for the top three.  To read the top posts, just click the blue highlighted title or the blue words, “read on,” at the end of each quick intro:

Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit: “Christmas Alone and the Christ Child,”

December 15.

 

This one opened the current cycle for folks facing the holidays with grief or loneliness, and it touched a nerve.  Read on…

Blessed Are Those Who Mourn: “Comfort and Courage,” October 23. 

After loss or betrayal, it takes courage to trust.  See how this Beatitude administers the medicine you need from the biblical story.  Read on…

Blessed Are the Meek: “Meek Beauty,” September 1. 

Got gentle strength?  The subject of this affectionate meditation does, and while the post is SECOND RUNNER-UP

, she is a beauty queen. Read on…

Blessed Are Those Who Hunger & Thirst for Righteousness: “Share the Longing,” October 30.

Following a lead from top commenter, Patty Hunter, this post tells about a young man, Emanuel Woods, whose spiritual yearning and ministry among underprivileged youth inspired many readers.  Read on…

Blessed Are the Merciful: “Crisis Telephone Contemplation,” October 6. 

The most autobiographical post to date tells how I learned contemplation through action.  It also displays the cutest picture.  Read on…

Blessed Are the Pure in Heart: “I Want to Know Christ,” November 6.

The TOP POST FOR 2014

pays tribute to my much beloved late grandfather, Rev. C. Rees Jenkins, whose story of single minded and compassionate discipleship went virtually viral.  Twenty years after his death at 96, that may have been an answer to one of his countless prayers.   Read on…

Blessed Are the Peacemakers: “Risking Conflict for Peace,” August 20.

Do you want everybody to just get along?  Jesus invites you to a richer peace than that.  Read on…

Blessed Are the Persecuted: “Van Gogh’s Sermons,” November 13. 

To paraphrase Don McLean, the world was never meant for one as beautiful as Vincent, but the startling popularity of this FIRST RUNNER UP

post shows the world’s gratitude for the gifts he left.  Yet, you might insist, surely he wasn’t persecuted for righteousness’ sake.  You may be surprised.  Read on…

I was also quite interested in assessing which Beatitudes had the strongest showing for all posts, and the top two were very close.  Here are they are in order.  Just click the blue text below to see the category lists.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:3).

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God (Matthew 5:9).

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