“See the beauty and
power of God
in everything.”
~ John McCambridge

Many have said that education is the key to success. While some may disagree, my own experience supports this claim. I was fortunate. Not only did I get an excellent education, I received a Jesuit education. I graduated from Saint Ignatius College Preparatory in 1972. After a circuitous undergraduate journey, I earned my bachelor’s degree from Santa Clara University in 1979. Three years later, I enrolled in a master’s program at the University of San Francisco, graduating in 1984. The education I received has served me well personally, professionally, and spiritually.

One of the basic principles of Jesuit education is derived from the spirituality of Saint Ignatius of Loyola. “Finding God in all things” is both a challenge and an invitation.

It’s relatively easy for us to recognize the presence of God in the good experiences of our lives. I was overwhelmed with this feeling in the moments following the birth of our first son, Tom. As I held the precious new life in my arms, I had an experience of being completely immersed in God’s love. It was a sacred moment. It’s a bit more challenging to recognize God’s presence during difficult times.

When confronted with a painful situation, I am invited and challenged to ask, “Where is God in this?” The answer may not be immediately identifiable. It often took me a while to finally understand that, even in my darkest hour, God was with me — supporting me and loving me. The task of finding God in all things is one of the most valuable lessons I learned in my years of Jesuit education.

I also learned that God loves me unconditionally, and more so that I will ever be capable of comprehending. 

Ralph Waldo Emerson summed-up another lesson I learned from the Jesuits. He wrote, “The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” Have you ever noticed that you never see a U-Haul trailer behind a hearse? When we die, we can’t take anything with us. We can, however, leave something of value in the world and in the lives of other people. 

One of my Santa Clara classmates has made a positive difference in the world. Janet Napolitano was the valedictorian at our 1979 undergraduate commencement exercises. She went on to serve as a two-term Governor of Arizona, the Director of Homeland Security, and President of the University of California school system. She made an excellent point when she said, “You don’t go to university so you can punch a clock. You go to university so you can be in a position to make a difference.”

Making a conscientious effort to see God in all things, to recognize the beauty, presence, and power of God in everything, is one way we can all make a positive difference in the world. I will be forever grateful for the consequential lessons I learned from my years of Jesuit education.