Jeff Hampton – Page 58 – Jeff Hampton, Writer

April 13, 2023

Enjoy the Journey

For Wilshire Baptist Church

Strolling across the Baylor University campus Wednesday morning, it all looked so familiar: students walking down long sidewalks in the bright sunshine or the shade of live oaks to classes in red-brick buildings. I paused to take a picture, because with the exception of the abundance of backpacks, it could have been a spring morning in 1981 when I was on my way to a journalism class.

But, it was just an illusion, because 48 hours earlier I was in a medical office in Dallas taking a cardiac stress test. And 24 hours after that, I was on the phone with the cardiologist who was telling me we need to take a closer look. I may feel like I could be a college student again but my body is saying no.

April 6, 2023

Rolling Away the Stone

For Wilshire Baptist Church

Making decisions about grave markers during Holy Week is one of those interesting coincidences that life dials up every now and then. The week is already thick with darkness and pathos as we walk symbolically toward the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, but ladle on top of that the mortality of your own flesh and blood, and it all becomes very . . . real.

March 30, 2023

Civics 101

For Wilshire Baptist Church

The day started with a civic meeting and ended with a civic meeting, and while the groups and agendas were different, they landed on the same topic: homelessness. Yes, it’s the topic that won’t go away.