A Beacon of Light

“The grieving begins the moment you hear the news.” Harold Ivan Smith Every morning, I receive an email which includes the obituaries of those who have died in the San Francisco Bay Area. Before the era of email, I used to get this information by reading the daily newspaper. As far back as my college years, I recall…

“In every walk with nature  one receives far more  than he seeks.” John Muir It’s a hidden gem tucked-away in the hillside above the town of Los Altos, California. The Jesuit Retreat Center of Los Altos, formerly known as El Retiro San Inigo, is a perfect venue for weekend retreats, conferences, individual reflection, and spiritual direction.…

“It takes courage to  face and overcome  powerful emotions.” Desmond Tutu As I mentioned in yesterday’s blog post, I’m on retreat this weekend, so I want to keep this short. Last night, at the opening session, the retreat leader, Fr. Jim Voiss, S.J., invited us to recall an experience in our lives with which we struggle…

“He who is devoid  of the power to forgive  is devoid of the power  to love.”Martin Luther King, Jr. It’s a popular phrase with which you are probably familiar. “Holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.” Though its exact origin is debated, this popular quote is often attributed…

“The challenges  never disappear.  They simply  change form.” Beth O’Leary Everyone experiences challenges. No one escapes. Clearly, some challenges are significantly greater than others, but coping with, and ultimately overcoming the difficult times and situations in our lives is a shared experience.  When I was in elementary school, challenges included being accepted by my peers, struggling…

“Education is the most  powerful weapon which  you can use to  change the world.”   Nelson Mandela I am fairly certain that my sister, Cathy, never expected to read an article in which she was mentioned along with Nelson Mandela, Carlos Santana, and Ralph Waldo Emerson. Well, today the unthinkable becomes a reality. Today’s blog post…

“What good is the warmth of summer without the cold of winterto give it sweetness.”John Steinbeck What an amazing difference six months can make. In July 2025, Kathy and I enjoyed a pleasant visit to Bristol, Rhode Island to spend a few days with our friends, Steve and Karen Aveson. Steve and I were high school classmates.…