A Beacon of Light

“Be willing to be a beginner every single morning.”  Meister Eckhart Life is a constant process of starting over. We finish elementary school and begin high school. We graduate from high school and launch the journey into our college years. We earn a bachelor’s degree and either continue on for a master’s degree or enter…

Better than anyone else, I know myself. At this time in my life, I’ve come to a point where I acknowledge and appreciate the gifts I’ve been given — the things I do well and the things I enjoy doing. Through the years, I have also learned that I am not perfect. I am flawed.…

“The homily is not meant to be an endurance contest (or a hostage situation).”  Comment on Social Media I once heard it said, “You cannot be a passive lamb in the flock of Christ and expect to grow.” There is great truth in this statement. Sadly, it seems that little is expected (“pay, pray, and…

“Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time.”  Steven Wright My home is located in the Santa Clara Valley, in what was once affectionately known as The Valley of Heart’s Delight. The nickname changed following the invention of the microchip. In response to the technology boom of the past fifty years, this once fertile…

“Let’s face it. Friends make life a lot more fun.”  Charles R. Swindoll There’s something to be said for a group of friends who gather around a table, enjoy a delicious meal together, and share stories and memories from their past. For several years now, a number of my classmates from the Saint Gabriel School…

“Man is affected not by events, but by the view he takes of them.”  Epictetus It’s a delightful word: equanimity. It means mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper, especially in difficult situations. Do I possess the gift of equanimity? Sometimes yes. Sometimes no. I thought this might be a good reflection for a Friday…

“Count your age by friends, not years. Count you life by smiles, not tears.”  John Lennon I’m not exactly sure why, but I was feeling a little melancholy today. Kathy was home all day nursing a headache and cough. I’ve been contemplating a few opportunities which have arisen in my life that, for some reason,…

“How wonderful life is, now that you’re in the world.”  Elton John Two years and four days after the birth of our first child, Tom, my wife, Kathy, gave birth to our second son, Steve. Throughout the pregnancy, I had wondered if it would be possible to love another child as much as I loved…

Thomas: “I can’t win.”Tavita: “Then lose. But don’t lose alone, lose with us.”From the movie Next Goal Wins For the past few years, I have enjoyed reading a newsletter written and published by former UCLA and NBA great Kareem Abdul Jabbar. A disciple of the legendary coach John Wooden, Kareem is so much more than…

“Through all of youth, I was looking for you without knowing what I was looking for.”  Benjamin Alire Sáenz  I recall the night vividly. It was well after midnight. I was walking down The Alameda from Santa Clara University, where I had been visiting with friends in one of the dormitories, to the campus of…