The Beatitudes Today (ala Nadia Bolz Weber & me)

Blessed are the agnostics, for the shall always be seekers.

Blessed are they who doubt, for they can still be surprised.

Blessed are they who are spiritually impoverished, for they are immune to self righteousness.

Blessed are they for whom Death tugs at their elbow everyday. Blessed are they who have buried their loved ones, for they have loved enough to know what the emptiness of loss and the preciousness of the gift of life.

Blessed are they who don't have the luxury of taking things for granted anymore for they know they must move.

Blessed are they who cancan’t fall apart because they have to keep it together for everyone else for their courage strengthens the rest of us.

Blessed are the doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists, the nurses aides, the housekeeping staff, who struggle daily against a deadly pandemic and public ignorance and apathy.

Blessed are those who “still aren't over it yet” for they push us toward a brighter future.

Blessed are those who no one else notices. The kids who sit alone at middle school lunch table. The homeless we pass on the street. The depressed who can’t leave their home. The shut in who are too feeble or afraid, for your place is found in heaven.

Blessed are the forgotten, those alone in nursing homes who have no visitors. Blessed are the closeted, who are too fearful to reveal their true selves.

Blessed are the unemployed, the essential worker who can’t make a living on their wages.

Blessed are those who without a lobby to represent them.

Blessed are the teens who have to figure out ways to hide the new cuts on their arms. Blessed are the meek.

Blessed are the wrongly accused, the ones who never catch a break, the ones for whom life is hard, for Jesus chose to surround himself with people like them.

Blessed are those without documentation and those who have lost children or parents.

Blessed are foster kids and special ed kids and every other kid who just wants to feel safe and loved.

Blessed are those who make terrible business decisions for the sake of their employees.

Blessed are the burned out social workers and the overworked teachers and the pro bono case takers for they shall find solace.

Blessed are the forest fire fighters: the smoke jumpers, the hot shots, the aviators, pilots, and crew that drop fire retardant on the flames. Blessed are the pilots and crews who track hurricanes, the meteorologists who predict their track and warn us and especially those who work tirelessly in recovery efforts from these natural and manmade disasters.

Blessed are the those who step between the bullies and the weak.

Blessed are those who can disagree and still be friends.

Blessed are they who can accept forgiveness.

Blessed is everyone who has ever forgiven me when I didn't deserve it.

Blessed are the compassionate merciful, for they totally get it.

God help me to be one, too!

+Jeff