A Beacon of Light

“Never be afraid  to trust an  unknown future  to a  known God.”  Corrie ten Boom There are moments in my life when I wish God would simply tell me what’s coming next. I want the road ahead to be clearly marked. I want to know which direction to take, what decisions to make, and how…

“Choose to be optimistic. It feels better.”Dalai Lama Most people I know would say, if they gave it much thought, that they try to be positive in their outlook on life. Being positive does not mean walking around with a smile on your face every minute of every day, or pretending that problems don’t exist. True positivity…

“No is a  complete  sentence.” Anne Lamott Compassion is a good thing. Helping others is praiseworthy. Lightening the burden for another person can be commendable. As with so many other things in life, it’s all about balance. Anne Lamott’s five-word sentence quoted above might be the single most useful sentence in any conversation about boundaries. We…

“He who knows that enough is enough will always have enough.” Lao Tzu “You will never have enough until you are grateful for what you have.” This Greek proverb challenges a belief that is deeply embedded in modern society — the idea that what we have is never quite enough. We are constantly encouraged to want more money, more…

“San Franciscans arevery proud of their City.It’s the most beautifulplace in the world.”Robert Redford It has been an absolute honor for Kathy and me to host my friend Saori, and her daughter, Saki, for the past week. They departed San Francisco International Airport late last night and are returning to their home in Sasebo, Japan…

“True friends stay with you no matter the distance or time that separates you from them.”Lance Reynald It was the luck of the draw. When I was first invited to escort a group of students from St. Lawrence Academy to Nagasaki, Japan for a homestay visit in November 1998, I learned that my host student…

“And all at once, summer collapsed into fall.” Oscar Wilde This will be brief. My favorite season has arrived. A season of colorful foliage, falling leaves, cooler days and evenings, pumpkin-spice everything, and, of course, gratitude. How could I not love this season of autumn? I’ve been busy this week with our two visitors from…

“I get the feel of a happy atmosphere.”Sandra Aguirre, Artist The City of Santa Clara hosts its annual Art & Wine Festival today and tomorrow at Central Park on Kiely Boulevard. The event features live music, a variety of food vendors, and dozens of artists displaying and selling their work. Thousands of people will stroll…

“A guest never forgets the host who treated him kindly.” Homer Those who have the opportunity to visit Japan will undoubtedly be left in awe by the level of hospitality they experience there. This is no coincidence. Hospitality is actually a deeply rooted element of Japanese culture. This exceptional standard of hospitality has a word in Japanese, omotenashi…

“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,…