Beatitudes Blog
Loveliness and Peace: A 10th Anniversary Tribute to Wanda
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God (Matthew 5:9). A few months before proposing to my wife, Wanda Cantrell, I published a Beatitudes Blog post, “Meek Beauty,” paying tribute to her as an exemplar of meekness. I discussed how her...
Truth In the Wind: A Sermon on John 16:12-15
“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He...
Shell Work (poem)
Shell Work J. Marshall Jenkins From dark clouds built high on the horizon and breakers marching just below it at low tide, shells inevitably call your gaze down and near between crab holes and a jellyfish beached amid foam. The moon allows brief visits here....
The Peace of Christ: A Sermon on John 14:23-29
Jesus answered him, “Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words, and the word that you hear is not mine but is from the Father who sent me. “I...
Pope Francis Takes On Global Indifference
Welcome, Pope Francis!
Choosing Life from the Depths of Despair
If you or someone you love is deeply depressed…
Because He Meets Us In Trials (poem)
Because He Meets Us In Trials J. Marshall Jenkins This restlessness to rest in God: Many set out with Wordsworth and take it to woods and fields green hazed yellow with daisies, birds a choir in flight. God is there, no doubt. However, such wandering retreats only...
After Disillusionment (poem)
After Disillusionment J. Marshall Jenkins Hagar said, “Have I really seen God and remained alive after seeing him?” (Genesis 16:13b). Life mercifully disillusions you in increments: Mother forgets to hug or hear. Playmates shame or exclude just to see you cry. Grades...
From Prayer Tree to Pulpit: A Visit to the Howard Thurman Home
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God (Matthew 5:8-9). On the Road to the Howard Thurman Home Recently, Wanda and I headed to the Florida Atlantic coast for a few days before a...
The Four Temptations: Sermon on Luke 4:1-13
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. The devil said to him, “If you...
What We Want Is Glory: A Reflection on Isaiah 4:2-6
On that day the branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be the pride and glory of the survivors of Israel. Whoever is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy, everyone who has been recorded for life in...
After Illness (poem)
After Illness J. Marshall Jenkins Recovered, more or less, still a bit tired, remembering the illness, the drain, dis-ease, grayness darkening, hope dimming, restless rest, wondering now how it came, how to fend it off better next time. Meanwhile, it takes perhaps a...
As a psychotherapist and spiritual director, I bring well-honed insight and skill to these posts; yet, my vulnerability plays a more important part, for more than advice from experts, serious people of faith need resonance with fellow travelers.
In my writing and in your reading and comments, may we face our challenges in God’s compassionate presence rather than in a private dressing room where we try in vain to make ourselves presentable to God at an appointed meeting. God meets us where we are.
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