A Beacon of Light

“Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!”L. Frank BaumThe Wizard of Oz

“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”Maya Angelou There is a great deal of wisdom in these inspiring words of author Maya Angelou, yet I know, from having read his book, All Things Beautiful, that Pat Maguire would respectfully disagree. No greater agony? I’m sorry, but Pat knows a thing or two…

“Coffee… the favorite beverage of the civilized world.” Thomas Jefferson I don’t drink coffee. Why? I dislike the taste. It’s that simple. The aroma of coffee, however, has been one of my favorite smells throughout my lifetime. It brings back vivid memories of times in the early- to mid-1960s when my paternal grandmother would stay at our home…

It’s been almost twenty years since the movie The Bucket List hit the silver screen. After watching the film, I took some time to make my own bucket list — things I wanted to accomplish before my death. The #1 item on my list at that time was to write and publish a book. Ten…

“And forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet…” Kahlil Gibran This quote, from Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet, may contain a valuable pearl of wisdom. How wonderful it is, for some folks, to walk through a forest, along a beach, or across a meadow with no shoes on their feet. I’m told that it is…

“You will never reach your destination if you stop and throw stones at every barking dog.” Winston Churchill I first came across this insightful quote back in 2012 when I was confronted by the incessant barking of a small handful of disgruntled colleagues in the workplace. Churchill’s words were a reminder to me then that I had a…

“Sudden loss remind us to cherish each day.” Jamie Anderson My cousin, Debbie, and I have been meeting for lunch once a month for the past couple of years. Each month, we pick a different restaurant somewhere between San Francisco and San José. Last month, we enjoyed a meal at the Alpine Inn, located in Portola Valley.…

“Cast all your worries upon him because he cares for you.”  1 Peter 5:7 It’s such a common response from well-intentioned people: “Put it in God’s hands.” It seems like such a compassionate thing to say to someone (or to yourself) who is dealing with struggles in their life. I’ve said this to people before, too. Yesterday…