I Am Just Saying
When Jesus blessed the persecuted
he was not recruiting
an army
of understudies
to weave wool
and spin yarns
easily unraveled
only to hire
scribes and Pharisees
to cry in courts
of public opinion
about
their oppression.
He did not
want that.
I am just
saying...
What Exactly Am I Saying?
If you spend a little time with the poems on this site, you might notice how often I return to the Beatitudes. I understand these teachings, yet I am constantly reminded to live them with more patience and openness. They speak to something wider than any single tradition, a way of being that values humility, compassion, and peace. I try to let those blessings guide my writing and my choices, though I know I fall short. If you are also seeking a gentler way of moving through this world, I hope you feel welcome here, and maybe we can learn a little more kindness together.
Over the past year, I have shared some of my writings on AllPoetry.com. I enjoy participating in and hosting competitions there. Please check out my writing there as well.
More About the Beatitudes
If you would like to explore the Beatitudes from a deeper perspective, here are a few thoughtful and scholarly articles that look closely at their meaning, context, and ethical insight. They each approach the text with care and offer helpful background for reflection.
• The Meaning and Message of the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3–12
R. Stefanovic explores how the Beatitudes form a unified set of blessings that invite us to reimagine what a meaningful life looks like.
• The Beatitudes as Leadership Virtues
Bruce E. Winston and Paula A. Tucker consider the Beatitudes as practices that shape character and guide how we treat one another in community.
• A Comparative Analysis of Psalm 1 and the Beatitudes
Dan Lioy traces how the Beatitudes draw on earlier spiritual traditions, showing how these blessings speak to deep hopes for wisdom and human flourishing.