I wrote this poem while reflecting on the most recent outbreak of black death caused by police as well as the most recent outbreak of trans death in our society. My black trans heart hurts. My black trans soul is tired from having to relentlessly fight for my humanity. I’m especially tired of having to […]
Author: Taj M. Smith
A Homily for All Saints/Souls Day
John 11:32-44 When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. […]
A Letter to My Friends in Times of Loss
My dear friends, I’m writing you this because many of you are grieving. Lost parents, lovers, friends, mentors, children, homelands, senses of self and assumed safety. You have lost, and now you are feeling some sort of response to that loss. This is my love letter to you. This is my way of saying I […]
A Sermon: “Doubt Thomas”
I gave this sermon on April 12, 2015 at First Church Cambridge. Trigger Warning: Some discussion of sexual assault. John 20:19-31 20:19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and […]
An Easter Poem (A Day Early)
Allow me to compose for You, for I called You a poem knowing that You in all You are are art. You are words dripping from my tongue, satiating A thirst for medium form, and style, Life. I called You, Poetry. You showed up late and underdressed, A sight to behold. All glory, In the sunlight.
Divine Loneliness: An Excerpt from my Journal
I read my journals after I finish writing on their last pages before putting them away. This journal was particularly heavyhearted. It spans the beginning of a grief process to a hospitalization. This entry was written in the throes of an existentialist faith crisis that I’m still wading through. Needless to say, it’s dark. Though […]
What Support Looks Like
People want to be helpful. We especially want to help our friends. Their distress calls to us and we want to be there to do all that we can to help. Few of us, though, understand what that looks like. We throw out statements like, “If you need anything, let me know” and “I’m here […]
A Sermon: With You in the Dark
This is the sermon I gave at First Church Cambridge on January 4th, 2015. I will give this a trigger warning for talk of suicide and depression. Please read with care: Verve Coffee Roasters sits on the corner that separates the two streets with the heaviest foot traffic in Santa Cruz, CA. I began writing […]
Sunday Night Slowjam: Your Song– Elton John
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTa8U0Wa0q8 Mixing it up this week because not all slowjams are R&B. Enjoy! Taj
Union: Psalm 86:11-17
Union My heart entwines with both sides of my brain while my conscience quiets, and I am grateful for the days I awake loving me as I am loved. Psalm 86:11-17