Good Morning, dear Kindred Souls:

Turning to the very words of Jesus--even the "red letters" of our New Testaments can offer us hope in these days of storm, trouble and anxiety. While sitting quietly yesterday, I felt an inner nudge inside of me to turn to the Beatitudes, found in Matthew 5:1-12. These words have anchored men and women in bad times and good times for 2000 years. I believe, by focusing on these words for the next two weeks, we can find a sense of solidarity in reading the same words of Jesus and by especially sharing how these words stir inside of us. Let me offer some thoughts on the very first beatitude.