A Beacon of Light

“We cannot change  the cards we are dealt,  just how we  play the hand.” Randy Pausch One of life’s most difficult lessons is recognizing that we are not in control of everything that happens to us. We make plans, pursue dreams, build relationships, and try to create the lives we want. Yet illness, loss, disappointment, aging,…

“The greatest gift you  can give someone   is your time.” Rick Warren It’s true! “The greatest gift you can give someone is your time.” But there is more to Rick Warren’s words quoted above. He tells us, “When you give your time, you are giving a portion of your life that you will never get back.”…

“What doesn’t kill us gives us something to write about.” Julie Wright There is something powerful about putting our thoughts down on paper. In a world filled with constant noise, distractions, and digital communication, writing gives us a quiet space to pause and understand what is happening inside us. Whether we write in a journal, compose a letter,…

“If we practice good will, we become loving.”Charlotte Bell I learn something new every day. Yesterday morning, I received an email from someone I met at a dinner party a few weeks ago. Sandy was responding to one of my recent blog posts. At the end of her message, where one might normally write Take care, All…

“Of all the words of mice and men, the saddest are ‘It might have been.’”Louis L’Amour Some decisions close a door so quietly that we don’ realize until many years later just how different the world on the other side might have been. Many years ago, I made such a decision. I chose to remain in California rather…

“There comes a time when humanity is called to shift to a new level of consciousness, to reach a higher moral ground. A time when we have to shed our fear and give hope to each other.” Wangari Maathai It is difficult to watch the evening news today without feeling deeply discouraged. We hear of…

“To me, the smell of  fresh-made coffee  is one of the  greatest inventions.”Hugh Jackman I’m not a coffee drinker. In fact, I despise the taste of coffee. The aroma of coffee, however, is something I thoroughly enjoy. Maybe it’s because it reminds me of the many times my paternal grandmother stayed at our home after…

“Practicing gratitude invites joy into our lives.” Brené Brown It sure is easy to get distracted. The negativity in the world around us is difficult to ignore. It can lead one to believe that the world is basically evil, but with a presence of good. I have always wanted to believe that the world is basically good, but…

For what are you grateful this morning?

“Act as if everything  depended on you;  trust as if everything  depended on God.”St. Ignatius of Loyola About six months ago, my friend and former colleague, Pierce Murphy, invited me to join him on a long walk in September. Pierce currently lives in West Virginia, so I asked where this walk would take place. He…